| MedFriendlyTM |
|
 TM
| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
|
|
FEATURE BOOKS ON KIDNEY DISEASE AT BARNES & NOBLE.COM?
WHAT IS MEDULLARY SPONGE KIDNEY?
Medullary sponge kidney is a rare disease of the kidney that is present since birth in which sacs filled with fluid or partially solid material cause tubes of the kidney (known as collecting tubules) to widen. Collecting tubules (tubules are small tubes) collect urine from other small tubes in the kidney called convoluted tubules and pass it through to the renal pelvis. The renal pelvis is a flat, funnel-shaped expansion of the top part of the ureter, which is a thick tube that takes urine to the bladder.
WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS DOES WIDENING OF THESE TUBES CAUSE?
|
By increasing the width of the collecting tubules, the normal flow of urine that passes through them is slowed or stopped. To understand this better, picture trying to pass liquid through a straw and then trying to pass the same amount of liquid through a large water pipe. The liquid will enter the straw at the same speed it enters the pipe. However, the liquid will pass through the straw quicker than the water pipe because there is less room for it to pass through. When you increase the size of the object that the liquid is passing through (such as the large water pipe or the widened collecting tubules), the liquid will spread out, travel slower, and might eventually stop traveling altogether.
When the flow of urine is slowed down or stopped, infections and kidney stones can develop. The infections develop because the toxins in the urine are not passing out of the body quick enough. In addition, since urine is warm and bacteria thrives in warm areas, having a place in the body where warm urine is sitting promotes bacteria growth. |
Kidney stones develop when certain bacteria cause the urine to become less acidic. When urine is less acidic, two substances in urine (uric acid and cystine) gather into a mass and form kidney stones. Thus, one of the ways this disease is treated is by taking drugs that make the urine more acidic.
HOW ELSE IS MEDULLARY SPONGE KIDNEY TREATED?
People with medullary sponge kidney should also drink lots of fluids in order to decrease the chance that substances in the urine can build up in great enough amounts to form kidney stones. Contrary to popular belief, to reduce kidney stones (which are typically made of calcium) one should NOT decrease the amount of calcium in the diet, but should actually increase it (for example, 1200 milligrams a day). The reason why increasing calcium intake decreases kidney stone formation is unclear at this time. This information is based on the newest clinical research.
WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF MEDULLARY SPONGE KIDNEY?
Symptoms of medullary sponge kidney include excessive urinating and/or a burning pain while urinating. People with medullary sponge kidney also tend to have abnormal amounts of blood in the urine. Kidney failure does not usually develop with this condition.
HOW IS MEDULLARY SPONGE KIDNEY DIAGNOSED?
Medullary sponge kidney is diagnosed by using X-rays to examine the urinary system.
WHY IS IT CALLED MEDULLARY SPONGE KIDNEY?
The word "medullary" comes from the Latin word "medulla," meaning "marrow." Marrow is a soft type of tissue present inside bones. If your break a chicken bone in half and look inside, the pink substance that you see is marrow. Likewise, inside of the kidney are groups of tissue known as the renal medulla, which contain many of the small tubes mentioned above. (The word "ren" in Latin means "kidney"). The renal medulla is made up of cone-shaped masses of tissue called the renal pyramids. Medullary sponge kidney is a disease of the renal pyramids that make up the renal medulla. The word "sponge" is used to describe this condition because the widening of the collecting tubules caused give the kidney a spongy feeling and appearance.
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ON MEDULLARY SPONGE KIDNEY?
For more information and support regarding medullary sponge kidney and other kidney problems, we refer you to the following resources: Medhelp, National Organization for Rare Diseases, NIH/National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, American Foundation for Urologic Disease, American Kidney Fund, Inc., MedInfoSource, and the National Kidney Foundation.
|
Back to main page
|
|