UT Medical Group, Inc.'s (UTMG) Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine is comprised of physicians on the faculty of the University Of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis who offer both clinical and consultation services and are certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Nephrology is the medical specialty concerned with the functioning and diseases of the kidneys. Kidney disease can include among others: Anemia, Chronic renal failure, Diabetes, Hypertension, and high blood pressure. Some kidney diseases result from hereditary factors; if your family has a history of any kind of kidney problems, you may be at risk for kidney disease. Doctors diagnose and treat Kidney disease using many different therapies among which are changing diet and lifestyle, medication and surgery, and dialysis.

Are You at Risk for Kidney Disease?

Federal statistics estimate that about 23 million adults in the U.S. suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), a life-threatening condition that can result in kidney failure and death. Moreover, the number of people with CKD is only expected to grow due to the rising rates of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, says UT Medical Group nephrologist Dr. Brad Canada.

Kidneys perform crucial functions in your body, including removing waste products and excess fluid through the production of urine. They also help to regulate blood pressure and perform other vital functions. When CKD reaches the point where the kidneys have lost their capacity to function, it is called End Stage Renal Disease.

“We’re in an epidemic of chronic kidney disease,” explains Dr. Darryl Quarles, who leads the nephrology division at UT Medical Group. “In Shelby County alone, more than 2,000 patients are on dialysis for End Stage Renal Disease. Many others have silent chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is only detectable by measuring renal function with a blood test. Although hypertension and diabetes lead to CKD, CKD itself is a risk factor for death and other complications. People with CKD need to be evaluated and followed by a nephrologist. There are ways to slow the progression of kidney failure and manage its complications.”

Prevention
You can minimize your chances of developing chronic kidney disease by eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, controlling your blood pressure, and managing your blood sugar if you have diabetes.

It’s also important to know your risk for kidney disease. Individuals who have a family history of CKD are more likely to develop the condition. African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and the elderly also have a higher risk of CKD. Talk with your doctor if you are at high risk for developing kidney disease.

Treatment
Treatment for kidney disease is more likely to be successful if the condition is detected early, says nephrologist Dr. Arif Showkat. Left untreated, the disease can cause one or both kidneys to fail. UT Medical Group nephrologists offer care for kidney disease at several convenient locations in the Memphis area.

If kidney disease progresses to the point that the kidneys fail, dialysis may be used to perform some of the work that the kidneys used to do. To make it easier for patients needing dialysis to get this vital service, UT Medical Group and Renal Advantage, Inc. (RAI) have partnered to open two new dialysis centers in Memphis: 1333 Poplar Avenue in Midtown and 4185 Pace Road in South Memphis. Nephrologist Dr. Christie Green is medical director for UTMG.

University Vascular Associates (UVA) at 6490 Mt. Moriah Road Extended.
physicians and nurses proactively care for patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD.) We are dedicated to providing high quality outpatient vascular access — a minor surgery procedure used to make it easier to access the blood of ESRD patients. Dr. Canada is medical director for UVA and Dr. Banerjee is the Interventional Nephrologist.

Kidney transplantation is also an option when both kidneys have failed. Here in Memphis, we are fortunate to have one of the nation’s top organ transplant programs at the UT-Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute, led by UT Medical Group transplant surgeon Dr. James Eason. In 2009, UTMG transplant surgeons at the Institute performed 107 adult and six pediatric kidney transplants, setting a record for the most performed there in a single year.

Additional resources
Discover more about kidney disease by visiting the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. You can also go to the National Kidney Foundation website and take a quiz to see if you are at risk for developing kidney disease.

To make an appointment with

• A UTMG kidney disease specialist, call 901-866-8810.
  
• The UTMG transplant team, call 901-516-9183.
• RAI (Renal Advantage, Inc.) Dialysis Center - 1333 Poplar, Midtown, Memphis, call 901-725-0482.
  
• RAI (Renal Advantage, Inc.) Dialysis Center - 4185 Pace Road, South Memphis, call 901-345-8649.
  
• UVA, University Vascular Access, 6490 Mt. Moriah Road Extended,
  call 901-866-8425.

Often, illnesses affect many areas of the body and may require evaluation and treatment by several types of doctors. Our doctors can easily call on their colleagues in other specialties for consultation. Locations throughout the Memphis area make quality health care convenient to you and your family.

Department of Medicine
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
UT Medical Group Departments
UT Medical Group Physician Directory

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Information and links found on the UT Medical Group, Inc. web site are neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency call your healthcare provider immediately.