Renal medicine

Renal medicine, or nephrology, involves the care of patients with all forms of kidney disease. A major part of the work of renal specialists is the management of patients with acute kidney injury or advanced chronic kidney disease. This may involve renal replacement therapy, by dialysis or kidney transplant.

In addition, renal physicians provide care for patients with kidney disease without impairment of kidney function, including proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome; patients who have kidney involvement in multisystem immune disease such as systemic lupus and vasculitis; and patients with tubular or other metabolic disorders affecting the kidney. Renal physicians work closely with urologists to provide care for patients with haematuria, recurrent infections of the urinary tract, kidney stone disease, urinary tract obstruction and neurogenic bladder, and with obstetricians to manage kidney disorders in pregnancy.

Nephrology has a strong multiprofessional approach, with close collaboration with transplant surgeons, and teamwork with specialist nurses, dietitians, psychologists, dialysis technicians etc. Also, prevention and early detection of kidney disease involves working with other hospital specialties (such as diabetic medicine and hypertension) and GPs.

Related RCP publications

• Consultant physicians working with patients, fourth edition (2008)
• Changing face of renal medicine in the UK: the future of the specialty (2007)
• Chronic kidney disease: national clinical guideline for the early identification and management of adults in primary and secondary care (2008)
• Chronic kidney disease in adults: UK guidelines for identification, management and referral (2006)
• Identification, management and referral of adults with chronic kidney disease: guidelines for general physicians and general practitioners (2006)

Specialty training

For information about specialty training in renal medicine, go to the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Postgraduate Training Board (JRCPTB) website.

Specialist societies

• The Renal Association
• British Renal Society

Patient information websites

• British Kidney Patient Association
• UK National Kidney Foundation