1. Outline the problems that arise from kidney failure and discuss the use of renal dialysis and transplants for the treatment of kidney failure
Kidney failure affects tens of thousands of people each year in the UK
If one kidney fails, one can survive with one functioning kidney
If both kidneys fail, death will result within about 2 weeks without medical treatment
Death often results from build up of potassium ions...
... which causes heart failure

2. Filters blood under pressure
Damaged by excessive pressure
Adjusts pH of blood
Adjusts water content of blood in response to ADH
Selectively reabsorbs glucose, amino acids, vitamins, sodium and chloride ions
Reabsorbs water
NOTE: regulation of water balance helps regulate blood volume which helps regulate blood pressure

3. Chronic kidney failure
Progressive, long term kidney failure – takes place over a number of years
Possible causes:
- Bacterial infection of pelvis and surrounding tissue
- Nephritis: inflammation of glomeruli due to antibodies to other infections attacking tissue
- Damage due to high blood pressure
- Damage due to obstruction of ureter, bladder or urethra
- Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
- Atherosclerosis – reduces blood supply to kidney

4. Chronic kidney failure
Nephrons are progressively destroyed, leading to:
- Reduced quantity of urine
- Dilute urine
- Dehydration
- Salt imbalance
- Severe high blood pressure
- Coma and convulsions

5. Acute kidney failure
Relatively sudden failure of kidney
Possible causes:
- Loss of blood supply to kidney...
... possibly as a result of blood loss in accident ...
... heart failure...
... or toxic chemicals
- Severe bacterial infection or nephritis
- Physical damage to kidney
- Obstruction of ureters, bladder or kidney

6. Acute kidney failure
Leads to:
- Little or no urine produced
- Accumulation of nitrogenous waste in blood
- Salt imbalance
- Pain
Often reversible if treated QUICKLY

7. ‘Renal Dialysis’ or ‘Haemodialysis’
Used to remove waste products such as urea, excess ions such as potassium and excess water from the blood when the kidneys are incapable of doing this

8. Blood is passed
diverted through the dialysis machine.
The dialyser contains
a semi-permeable membrane made of cellulose acetate or nitrate (e.g. Visking tubing)
Blood flows on one side of the dialysis membrane and a dialysis fluid flows on the other side
Waste materials and excess salts and water diffuse across the dialysis membrane into the dialysis fluid.

9. Trap
for
air
bubbles
Reservoir
of fresh
dialysis
fluid
Used
From patient
circulation
To patient
Dialyser
Heater

10. The dialysing fluid is formulated to ensure that only waste products and excess substances diffuse across the membrane
Note: for diffusion to occur, there must be a concentration gradient for the substance concerned to diffuse down
The dialysing fluid contains no urea or other excretory products, ensuring that these diffuse rapidly
A countercurrent system ensures that the concentration of urea etc is always higher on the blood side of the dialysis membrane

11. The concentration of glucose, mineral ions and other useful
The concentration of glucose, mineral ions and other useful substances is the same in the dialysing fluid as in normal blood plasma
These substances will only diffuse across into the dialysis fluid if their levels in the plasma are above normal levels
The dialysing fluid also contains dextran – a polysaccharide which cannot pass through the dialysing membrane
The level of dextran ensures that the water potential of the dialysing fluid is the same as normal plasma
If the plasma contains excess water, this will move into the dialysing fluid by osmosis.

12. If the blood and dialysing fluid flow in the same direction (concurrent flow), then the concentration gradient between adjacent regions of blood and dialysing fluid will drop as diffusion takes place along the length of the dialysing membrane
100 70 45 50 30
Flow
Diffusion
Gradient
This will cause the rate of diffusion to slow as we move along the length of the dialysing membrane

13. In a counter-current system, the concentration gradient is maintained along the length of the dialysis membrane
100 80 60 40 20
Flow
Diffusion
Gradient

14. Kidney transplants
First kidney transplants were performed in 1960’s
~1800 transplants are performed each year in UK
Number of transplants is limited by:
availability of donors
availability of good tissue match with patient
Kidney transplants have high survival rates
Tissue rejection is prevented with use of drugs such as cyclosporin A which damp the immune response
As you only need one kidney, close relatives can act as donors (reduces risk of rejection)

15. Kidney transplants
Transplants are cheaper than dialysis
- Cost of dialysis was ~£20 000/year in mid 90’s
- Post-transplant drug therapy cost ~£3000/year
Quality of life for patient is better if procedure is successful