NEWS FROM UT MEDICAL GROUP INC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 15, 2010

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 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. recently partnered to open two new dialysis centers in Memphis. Nephrologist Dr. Christie Green is medical director for the center at 1333 Poplar Avenue in midtown, which opens for business this month. Dr. Canada will serve as medical director for the Whitehaven facility, which should open later this spring.

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. Click here for information about the UT Medical Group Nephrology Department.

To make an appointment with a UT Medical Group kidney disease specialist, call 901-866-8810. To make an appointment with the UTMG transplant team, call 901-516-9183. For information about the UTMG-RAI Dialysis Centers, call 901-725-0482.

UT Medical Group is the private group practice affiliated with the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine faculty. A not-for-profit, non-tax-supported group practice, UTMG is dedicated to quality patient care, medical education, and medical research. For more information, visit www.utmedicalgroup.com.

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