Functions of the Kidneys and Diuretic Therapy

Functions of the Kidneys

• Kidneys help regulate potassium balance
• Kidneys balance fluid and electrolytes in the body
• Kidneys secrete renin, which helps regulate blood pressure
• Kidneys do not affect serum oxygen levels
• Kidneys do not have an impact on bacterial infections

Kidney Damage and Proteinuria

• Presence of protein in urine (proteinuria) indicates kidney pathology
• Proteinuria is a primary measurement for structural kidney damage

Diuretic Therapy

• Diuretics are used to treat conditions with abnormal fluid retention, such as:
  • Heart failure
  • Hypertension
  • Acute kidney injury
• Diuretics increase urine flow to reverse fluid retention
• Diuretics are not used to treat ketoacidosis; instead, fluid replacement is required

Side Effects of Diuretics

• Chlorothiazide (Diuril) can cause:
  • Low serum potassium levels (hypokalemia)
  • Low blood pressure

Acute Renal Failure

• Clients with acute renal failure cannot effectively regulate:
  • Fluid balance
  • Electrolyte balance
  • pH of body fluids
  • Blood pressure

Kidney Physiology

• Kidneys regulate blood pressure through the secretion of renin
• Kidneys regulate the acid-base balance of body fluids
• Kidneys produce calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D
• Kidneys do not stimulate white blood cell production, but stimulate red blood cell production through erythropoietin secretion