Dr. Th. Giesen - Doctor (MD) of Internal Medicine

Nephrology

As an area of internal medicine nephrology is concerned with kidney illnesses and hypertensive illnesses. Nephrologists diagnose and treat kidney diseases and advise patients on how to protect themselves.

Frequent nephrological illnesses are:
•	non-infectious, inflammatory illnesses of the kidneys
•	infections of the kidneys and the draining urinary tract
•	malignant illnesses of the kidneys (kidney cancer)
•	genetically dependent disorders of the kidney function

Typical complaints and findings professionally dealt with by nephrologists:
•	diminished kidney function (renal insufficiency)
•	oedemas (water retention)
•	protein or cells in the urine or urine discolouration
•	high blood pressure
•	pain in the kidney and pain in the bladder
•	renal colic

Diabetic and high-blood-pressure patients are often referred to a nephrologist due to a suspected damaging of the kidneys. Nephrologists carry out dialyses (blood lavage with artificial kidneys or as peritoneal dialysis) and care for the patients both prior to an after kidney transplantation. The care of patients with kidney disease is undertaken in close cooperation with the treating internists. The aim is an improvement in preventive medicine and early detection of kidney diseases and high-blood-pressure illnesses. After diagnosis, a plan of treatment for the individual patient is prepared in consultation with the treating internists.

top