Why it is important to know the cause of your kidney disease?
Learn why it is important to know the cause of your kidney disease, including how it can help you make important decisions about treatment options.
Finding the cause of your kidney disease can help you:
Make informed decisions about your treatment options
Knowing what causes your kidney disease helps you and your doctor make the best possible treatment plan and prevent the wrong or unnecessary treatment. For example, it can help you and your doctor:
Decide if you should get a kidney transplant
If your kidneys have failed, getting a kidney transplant can mean a chance at a longer, healthier life. If you know the cause, you and your doctor can:
- Weigh the benefits and risks of a kidney transplant and decide if it is a good option for you.
- Find out if you qualify to be on a transplant waiting list.
- Protect your new kidney after a transplant. Research shows that people who do not know the cause of their kidney disease are more likely to have their body reject a donor kidney after a transplant.
Know if you qualify for a clinical trial
Knowing the cause of your kidney disease can help you and your doctor find out if you may qualify for a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a research study to see how well a medicine works and if it is safe. Clinical trials for kidney disease test things such as:
- New treatments for kidney disease or ways to lower symptoms
- Ways to improve current treatments
- New ways of finding signs of kidney disease
Clinical trials can be a good way to get a new treatment before it is available to everyone.
Protect your overall health
Knowing the cause of your kidney disease can help you:
Prevent other health problems
Some causes of kidney disease can also cause other health problems, such as heart disease or high blood pressure. Knowing what causes your kidney disease can help you and your doctor prevent these other health problems.
Gain peace of mind
It can be stressful not knowing what causes your kidney disease or how your disease might get worse over time. Finding the cause can help you learn what might happen in the future and what you can do to stay as healthy as possible.
Protect your loved ones
Finding out what causes your kidney disease may help you:
Make decisions about family planning
Some genetic diseases (diseases that can be passed down from one or both parents to a child) can damage your kidneys, such as polycystic kidney disease. If you know that you have a genetic disease that could be passed down, you and your partner can make informed decisions about having biological children.
Help your children make health decisions
If the cause of your kidney disease is genetic, your biological children can take steps to keep their kidneys healthy. For example, they can:
- Get tested to find kidney disease early
- Make healthy life changes, such as being active and eating kidney-friendly foods
- Treat health conditions that can damage the kidneys, such as high blood pressure
Find information and support
Knowing the cause of your kidney disease can help you:
- Get better information about your kidney disease, such as websites for people with your condition
- Join a patient community, such as online support groups
- Find organizations that support people with your specific kidney disease, such as the PKD Foundation for polycystic kidney disease
If you need help finding information or support, ask your doctor to speak with a social worker or case manager. A social worker or case manager can help you navigate your health care, such as help with insurance and to schedule tests your doctor ordered.
To learn more about finding the cause of your kidney disease, see:
