Quicklinks
For Patients

© Copyright 2019-2023 American TelePhysicians - All Rights Reserved
Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy
A better question would be: What doesn’t it do?
Kidneys are the body’s major excretory organ and their principal function is to filter out blood and toxins. They’re also responsible for the production and adequate maturation of Red Blood Cells (RBCs).
Anything deemed as appropriate for the body will be filtered back and whatever the kidneys identify as harmful will be secreted out. Kidneys, therefore, regulate the body’s internal environment.
Most people are under the assumption that the most adequate form of treatment for any kidney disease would be dialysis. This is actually only true for end-stage kidney diseases - wherein the body’s own organs fall by 10-15% of their working capacities.
Formerly known as Acute Kidney Disease (AKD), Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a form of kidney disease that is triggered by ‘events.’ For example, by injury, medication, wounds, infection, and so forth.
AKI is often symptomatic with patients complaining of mental confusion, lethargy, and nausea. A few people might be asymptomatic and lab tests would be required to diagnose them.
This form of kidney disease takes on a rapid outline: Serum creatinine increases by 0.3% within the first 48 hours of the event, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) also increases, and the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) rapidly decreases within hours to days.
AKI is often diagnosed early on and therefore treated just as quickly. Your physician would identify the underlying event that caused the injury and work towards eliminating it. For example, if AKI developed due to tubular ischemia, the physician would try to laparoscopically remove the obstruction.
As opposed to AKI, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) develops over a period of three months and is triggered by ‘conditions’ rather than events. For example, CKD might be a manifestation of diabetes, hypertension, or polycystic kidney disease.
Patients are usually asymptomatic at the time when the disease is progressing and are usually only diagnosed at the end stages of the disease. Why? Because an asymptomatic patient won’t be intuitive enough to go to a doctor for a renal exam.
CKD is therefore identified as an incidental finding. Renal biopsies and serum creatinine tests are usually ordered by the physician if they determine a known condition that leads to CKD.
Kidney damage is characterized by albuminuria, urine casts, imaging findings, or abnormal renal biopsy. Kidney damage is either assessed with radiographs or with renal biopsies. Another indication is the GFR - Decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for at least 3 months.
Just remember that one in three people living in the United States runs a risk of developing kidney disease. Tests for AKI are usually undertaken immediately because of the manifestation of symptoms, but those for CKD are far less obvious.
To get your kidneys checked right and on time, your physician would suggest a Creatinine Urine Test. Creatinine is the chemical compound formed after energy-producing processes in the muscles.
Healthy kidneys are able to filter creatinine out of the blood. Creatinine is excreted in the urine.
The best course of action would be to routinely follow up with your primary care physician and have them assess your kidneys the way they see fit. They might require a history of medication (several drugs are nephrotoxic) or correlate symptoms with diseases.
Quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
Feeling weakness when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Again when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This time will pass.Feeling weakness when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Again when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This time will pass.Feeling weakness when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Again when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This time will pass.Feeling weakness when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Again when quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. This time will pass.
Hasan Riaz MD
Tatiana Arilha Thom, MD
Sarwat Makkani, MD
Yanelquis Torres, MD
Fabiola Baptiste, NP
Raga Mohamed Ali Osman
Sipra Talvikki Autio
Farah Jassawalla is a graduate of the Lahore School of Economics. She is also a writer, and a healthcare enthusiast, having closely observed case studies while working with Lahore's thriving general physicians at their clinics.
Sign in to speed up the checkout process.
Has been successfully added in your current order.
Please note that these services are not intended for any emergency medical situations. If you are having a life-threatening or serious condition that may require hospitalization, including, but not limited to, high-grade fever; low or high blood pressure; active serious infection, including, but not limited to, COVID; chest pain; shortness of breath; severe pain; or stroke-like symptoms, please call 911 immediately or go to a nearby emergency center as quickly as possible.
If you do not have a physician's order for labs or non-invasive radiology services, you may request it through our network of affiliated physicians/providers in selected states for an additional non-refundable fee, as listed (asynchronous consultation). Please note that an asynchronous consultation or physician-order service for diagnostics is not available for radiology tests requiring IV contrast. Patients needing a diagnostic study with IV contrast must complete an online visit with our physician first and, likely, will also need to have a lab test for their kidney function before a diagnostic study with IV contrast can be scheduled.
Once you request our provider or physician's order service, you will receive an email from us inquiring more details about your medical history. Based on the information you provide, one of our affiliated physicians or providers will make a determination about processing the order for the requested service. In some cases, as determined by our affiliated medical team, you may be required to provide additional clinical information or may be asked to have a more detailed online visit (an additional fee may apply) before your order can be processed. Please note that in some situations, or based on available clinical information, our team may even decide not to process the requested diagnostic order service and rather may recommend you to seek immediate medical attention in person or go to the nearest urgent care or ER. In that case, any advanced payment for the diagnostic service(s) will be refunded, but the physician's consultation or order request fee will remain non-refundable.
Please also note that any post-diagnostic service follow-up visit(s) or treatment(s) is not covered in this service fee and the ordering physician is not responsible to provide any continued care unless you sign-up for that service separately. Depending on your situation or test results, you may be advised to seek consultation with either primary care or a specialist physician (local or online) for further work-up and treatment. If you are unsure or have any questions, please call our customer support service before placing an order.
By clicking "Continue", you agree to the policy, terms, and conditions.