Kidneys Articles
Browse eMedTV's wide range of articles related to kidneys including topics such as epogen and pregnancy, epogen uses, and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Use the search box at the top-right corner of the page to find information about other health topics.
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Polycystic Kidney Disease Symptoms Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease |
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease |
This eMedTV Web page explores polycystic kidney disease, an illness that causes fluid-filled cysts to develop in the kidneys, and can lead to kidney failure. This page provides information on causes, symptoms, and treatment options for the condition.
Epogen is a prescription drug used to treat anemia due to chemotherapy, renal failure, or zidovudine. This eMedTV Web page discusses in detail other Epogen uses, explains how the medication works, and offers general dosing information.
Polycystic Kidney Disease Symptoms
This part of the eMedTV library covers possible polycystic kidney disease symptoms, including pain in the back and the sides, high blood pressure, and kidney stones, among other things. This page lists symptoms for all three types of the disease.
Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease
Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is a rare and often lethal condition. This eMedTV page covers autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease symptoms, treatment options, and diagnosis -- as well as how the disease can cause kidney failure.
Polycystic Kidney Disease Diet
This eMedTV article explains that despite some promising findings from previous animal studies, there is currently no polycystic kidney disease diet that has been shown to affect how many cysts develop or how large they become.
Polycystic Kidney Disease Causes
Typically, polycystic kidney disease is caused by mutations in the PKD1, PKD2, or PKHD1 genes. This part of the eMedTV archives highlights the different possible polycystic kidney disease causes for each type of polycystic kidney disease.
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is a condition that causes cysts to grow in the kidneys. This eMedTV page explains the gene mutation that causes autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, and also discusses symptoms and treatment options.
Polycystic Kidney Disease Treatment
As this eMedTV Web page explains, polycystic kidney disease treatment focuses on treating the disease's symptoms and complications, and can include medicine and surgery to reduce pain; antibiotics to treat infections; and kidney transplantation.
At this time, it is not known if Epogen is safe for pregnant women. This eMedTV Web page discusses Epogen and breastfeeding in more detail, including information on why the drug isn't likely to cause problems even if it does pass through breast milk.
Diarrhea is a side effect that may occur with the use of Epogen. This article from the eMedTV Web site further explores the link between Epogen and diarrhea, and explains when you should report diarrhea to your healthcare provider.
At this time, the risks of using Epogen during pregnancy are not fully understood. This page of the eMedTV library offers more information on Epogen and pregnancy, and explains what problems were seen when the drug was given to pregnant animals.
Epogen dosing is usually determined by weight. As this eMedTV page explains, the suggested dose for treating anemia due to kidney failure is 50 to 100 units per kg three times a week. Other Epogen dosage guidelines are also listed in this article.
At this time, no studies have been conducted to check for Epogen drug interactions. As this eMedTV article explains, although there are currently no known drug interactions, it does not mean that Epogen will not interact with other medicines.
Strokes, blood clots, or heart attacks could occur as a result of an Epogen overdose. This section of the eMedTV Web site lists other complications that may develop from taking too much Epogen. Overdose treatment options are also listed on this page.
Infections, fever, and constipation are some of the most commonly reported Epogen side effects. This eMedTV resource explains what other side effects may occur with Epogen and lists potentially serious problems that should be reported to a doctor.
Epogen is used for treating anemia due to chemotherapy, chronic kidney failure, or zidovudine (an HIV drug). This eMedTV article further explains what the medication is used for, including possible "off-label" Epogen uses.
Epogen Warnings and Precautions
Epogen can accelerate the worsening of cancer and may shorten survival. This eMedTV article contains more Epogen warnings and precautions, including information on who should not take the drug and a list of possible side effects that may occur.
Epogen, like other "biologic" medications, is not allowed to be manufactured in generic form. This eMedTV segment describes the rules and laws that biologic medications are under and explains the only way that generic Epogen products could be made.