Posts Tagged ‘Kidney Disease’

NSF – NFD Prevention

Comments: 0May 25th, 2010 by admin



NSF/NFD is a very rare but very serious, and sometimes fatal, condition. It has been closely associated with the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents used in MRI’s and MRA’s, and so far has only occurred in people with renal insufficiency. Because there is no cure for NSF/NFD, and the condition is very resistant to treatment, there is currently a very heavy emphasis on prevention.

Patients with moderate to severe renal insufficiency are at the highest risk for developing NSF/NFD. Anyone with renal insufficiency should avoid gadolinium exposure if possible, but for some people, tests using the contrast agent are necessary. In any event, patients with any level of renal insufficiency should be informed of the risks involved, and have the opportunity to decide for themselves, while taking into consideration the advice of their doctors, whether the benefits outweigh the risks.

Dose
The experts in NSF strongly recommend that when tests using contrast agents are absolutely necessary for people with renal insufficiency, the lowest effective dose should be used, especially in those with advanced kidney disease.

Dialysis
Gadolinium is primarily removed from the body by the kidneys. Therefore, people whose kidneys are not functioning properly do not eliminate the gadolinium as quickly and effectively as patients with normal functioning kidneys. Patients with normal functioning kidneys eliminate one-half of the injected gadolinium in 90 minutes while those with moderate to severe renal insufficiency, the half life of gadolinium is extended to up to 30 hours or more. This allows the gadolinium to undergo a chemical change and become distributed throughout the organs of the body The gadolinium is allowed to remain in their systems long enough to get into the skin and cause NSF/NFD.

Hemodialysis immediately after testing may eliminate some of the gadolinium. Typically, two or three, or more, sessions are needed to remove the toxin, but by doing so quickly after testing, gadolinium may not have the chance to spread throughout the body.

Hemodialysis may not be safe for everyone. Many doctors believe that patients who are not already in dialysis should not use the procedure just for gadolinium removal, because initiating dialysis can mean a permanent dependence on the procedure. Each person must be individually evaluated, and the benefits and risks of dialysis must be carefully weighed.

Different gadolinium contrast agents
All gadolinium-based contrast agents are considered to carry a possible risk of causing NSF/NFD, but some are more dangerous than others. So far, of the five gadolinium-based contrast agents approved by the FDA, only three have been linked to NSF/NFD. Most cases have occurred after the use of Omniscan, and some after using Magnevist and OptiMARK.

Some experts worry that low-risk patients will be overly cautious and go without the tests that they need. Each case has to be considered individually based on risk factors and the level of need for tests using the contrast agent.

If you believe you have developed NSF, we strongly advise you to contact your physician for an examination which may involve a skin biopsy. If you are, in fact, diagnosed with NSF, you should consult with an attorney experienced in handling NSF and other pharmaceutical injury cases

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Posted in anemia

Normocytic Anemia

Comments: 0February 6th, 2010 by admin



Anemia in its various forms is the most common blood condition in the United States, affecting anywhere between 2 and 10-percent of Americans. Anemia is considered a symptom of disease, rather than a disease in itself.

The body’s ability to sustain the correct number of red blood cells requires cooperation of the bone marrow, kidneys, and nutrients circulating within the blood. If one of these systems is not working properly, the body may develop a form of anemia.

Normocytic anemia is a condition in which the body does not maintain an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells. This reduces the blood’s ability to transfer a sufficient amount of oxygen to the tissues.

There are two forms of Normocytic Anemia. Congenital normocytic anemia, caused by the breaking up of red blood cells, is a condition a person is born with. Acquired normocytic anemia, the more common form, is most often the result of chronic illness or disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, kidney disease, and autoimmune diseases are some of the diseases that may lead to normocytic anemia.

Normally normocytic anemia will progress slowly. Initially the person may have no symptoms. Eventually the person may become pale, overly tired. As the condition progresses, the person may experience any array of symptoms, including shortness of breath, low blood pressure, a fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, and/or general weakness.

Normocyctic anemia is diagnosed through a complete medical history, a physical exam, and a routine blood test called a CBC (Complete Blood Count). Among other things, this blood test measures the levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. A portion of the blood will likely be examined under a microscope. This will reveal the number of blood cells, as well as the size, shape, and color. Normocytic anemia is the diagnosis given when the patient is found to have a low number of normal-sized red blood cells.

Once diagnosed, the doctor may wish to order further testing to determine the cause of the anemia. Treatment of normocytic anemia preferably targets the root cause. Occasionally, in severe cases, the doctor may recommend a transfusion of red blood cells or shots of erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is a hormone normally produced by the kidneys. Manufactured under various brand names, this medication induces the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.

A person diagnosed with anemia will need to have follow-up visits with his or her doctor in order to determine the response to treatment. Repeat blood tests will be ordered to monitor the number of red blood cells.

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Diet For Kidney Failure – Are They Really Effective in Reducing the Progression of Kidney Diseases?

Comments: 0September 17th, 2009 by admin



As a nurse for many years now, a lot of people complain to me that their diet for kidney failure is so hard to follow. They tell me that this type of diet has too many restrictions and that it is so rigid and unforgiving.

My reply to the above statement is that maybe the asking patient didn’t consider other possibilities of the diet? Or maybe he or she was not able to research enough to realize that this diet is in fact easy to follow.

Before I start talking about the diet for kidney failure, I will first talk a little about the kidney. The kidneys play key roles in body function, not only by filtering the blood and getting rid of waste products, but also by balancing levels of electrolytes in the body, controlling blood pressure, and stimulating the production of red blood cells.

Now, renal failure results when the kidneys cannot remove the body’s metabolic wastes or perform their regulatory functions. The substances normally eliminated in the urine accumulate in the body fluids. As a result of this impaired renal excretion, there are electrolyte and acid-base disturbances.

Renal failure is a systemic disease and is final common pathway of many different kidney and urinary tract diseases. Each year, the number of deaths from irreversible renal failure increases.

Kidney disease diet is an important consideration for those with impaired kidney function. Consultation with a dietitian may be helpful to understand what foods may or may not be appropriate. Various kidney disease recipes are available in the market right now.

Since the kidneys cannot easily remove excess water, salt, or potassium, they may need to be consumed in limited quantities. Foods high in potassium include bananas, apricots, and salt substitutes.

Phosphorus is a forgotten chemical that is associated with calcium metabolism and may be elevated in kidney failure. Too much phosphorus can leech calcium from the bones and cause osteoporosis and fractures. Foods with high phosphorus content include milk, cheese, nuts, and cola drinks.

This diet is usually done with other treatments for kidney failure. The two major treatments for kidney failure are dialysis and transplantation. The former has two kinds of procedures-hemodialysis (accessed via IV route) and peritoneal dialysis (done via the abdomen). The latter, on the other hand, involves a more complex pre-operation.

With a research based diet for kidney failure, renal recovery is almost guaranteed. It is, however, important to be started as immediately as possible to prevent long term damage.

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Posted in anemia

Diabetic Dietary Supplements – The Importance of Cinnamon and Huckleberry in Managing Diabetes

Comments: 0July 21st, 2009 by admin



Medication, diet, and exercise have long been the main tools for dealing with diabetes. But an increasing number of diabetics are turning to natural supplements to help them stay as healthy as possible. These products contain a number of natural botanical ingredients that work together to enhance blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity. Two ingredients you will often find in a supplement are cinnamon bark and huckleberry.

Diabetes is a condition that is not always taken seriously enough. Many people don’t realize that it can eventually cause heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, and even some forms of cancer. Fortunately, many of these horrific complications can be avoided or minimized if you take the right actions.

As any doctor will tell you, controlling blood glucose is critical. In fact, it’s the primary challenge facing every diabetic. Yet it can be an ongoing struggle, and you may need all the help you can get. A diabetic supplement is something you can add to your recommended diet and exercise routines. When taken as directed, it can support healthy blood sugar and promote better overall health.

Cinnamon bark is rather well known as an aid to managing blood sugar and has been used as medicine for centuries in China and Egypt. Now modern researchers are taking note of cinnamon’s positive effects. It appears to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. It can also be helpful to persons who have not been diagnosed with diabetes but who have high blood sugar, such as those with metabolic syndrome or pre-diabetes.

Huckleberry is another natural substance that can help decrease blood glucose. It’s been traditionally used by Native Americans, but current research is proving its effectiveness.

Of course, there are many other plant extracts that seem to be useful in normalizing sugar levels. For example, juniper berry and banaba leaf extract are attracting a lot of attention for their beneficial properties. You can expect to find several of these botanicals in any good diabetic nutritional supplement. It pays to review the product information before you buy, so you have confidence that you’re getting a variety of effective ingredients.

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Posted in Diabetes