Nephrology

What is nephrology?

Nephrology handles the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. This medical speciality is oriented towards prevention and diagnosis, to ensure that we can provide early detection and care for patients affected by renal pathologies as they often suffer a rapid deterioration in their quality of life.

Our nephrologists are also experts in diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, as systemic diseases cause great damage to the kidneys. The Canary Islands is the autonomous community with the highest prevalence of diabetes in Europe.

What does nephrology study?

Nephrology focuses solely on the study of kidney pathologies, so it should not be confused with urology, which deals with disorders affecting all the organs of the urinary system. At Quirónsalud we always offer the most advanced surgical techniques to ensure that our nephrologists can offer the best treatment. Nephrologists can specialise in 4 very specific areas: Primary and secondary glomerulopathies: These are diseases that affect the structure and function of the glomerulus, although other kidney structures may subsequently become affected. We talk about primary Glomerulonephritis when the clinical manifestations are restricted to the kidney, and of secondary Glomerulonephritis when the condition is part of a systemic disease such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

• Chronic kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease is a series of pathologies that affect the kidney in a chronic and irreversible way. Once diagnostic and therapeutic measures for primary kidney disease have been exhausted, it can develop into a chronic disease, and therefore early action is of vital importance.
• Cardionephrology: a high percentage of patients with chronic heart failure have some form of kidney disease. This unit works on the study and joint approach to both pathologies.
• Onconephrology: on the one hand, kidney patients on dialysis have a higher risk of developing cancer. On the other, cancer therapies can affect the kidneys. This subspecialty provides doctors with a global vision for treating patients with these joint pathologies.
• Geriatric nephrology: treats patients over the age of 70 who, due to age and a higher incidence of systemic diseases, tend to suffer from renal diseases more frequently.
• Diagnostic and interventional nephrology: Performs ultrasound monitoring, puncture and action on haemodialysis fistulas, placement of venous catheter for haemodialysis and performance of ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy.
• Renal surgery: focuses on the surgical treatment of kidney conditions together with the Urology team.

Which patients is it for?

Nephrology is aimed at patients with kidney disorders or diseases, and patients with other pathologies that make them more vulnerable to suffering from them. People over 65 years, diabetics, hypertensive patients and those undergoing cancer treatment are the most common profile at the clinic.

Techniques, procedures and diagnostic methods

Nephrologists use many methods and procedures to diagnose or treat kidney diseases. The most prominent include:

• Urine test: a diagnostic test to confirm or rule out the presence of albumin, a protein found in blood and urine. When a kidney is healthy, the result is negative.
• Glomerular filtration rate test: a diagnostic test that assesses kidney function by measuring the amount of blood filtered per minute.
• Haemodialysis: treatment for advanced kidney failure in which the blood is purified by removing excess water and waste substances. A machine is used to carry out the function of the kidneys.
• Kidney transplant: A surgical procedure in which a healthy kidney is placed in the body of a person with advanced kidney disease.
• Nephrectomy: surgical treatment carried out by Urology which involves the removal of all or part of a kidney.