Will dialysis help my brother live?
Jun 01, 2008
DIALYSIS a process by which toxins such as urea are separated from the blood of people whose kidneys have been damaged. Usually, these toxic substances are removed from the body by the kidneys and expelled through urine.
Dear doctor,
My brother who has HIV, was put on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) six months ago, but has not improved. Recently, he was diagnosed with kidney failure and doctors put him on dialysis. What is dialysis and what chance does he have to live if his kidneys are destroyed?
Kate
Dear Kate,
DIALYSIS a process by which toxins such as urea are separated from the blood of people whose kidneys have been damaged. Usually, these toxic substances are removed from the body by the kidneys and expelled through urine.
When the kidneys fail, the toxic substances accumulate in the body with harmful effects. There are two types of dialysis:
Haemodialysis, where the patient’s blood is pumped into a machine known as a dialyser, which removes the toxins from the blood. This has to be done in hospital about three times a week.
Peritoneal dialysis where the fluid for dialysing the patient is connected to the abdominal cavity, also known as the peritoneal cavity. This one does not require the patient to be admitted in hospital, but has to be done continuously.
Since you brother’s kidneys have failed, he has to be on dialysis for the rest of his life, unless he undergoes a kidney transplant, which cannot be done in Uganda.
The operation is expensive and you need to find a compatible donor (for the operation to take place). HIV can cause kidney failure in people living with AIDS when the virus attacks cells of the kidney. This is known as HIV-associated nephropathy.
Drugs such as antibiotics and ARVs such as Tenofovir, a common first line drug, could also cause it.
Indinavir, which is a second line antiretroviral drug, also affects kidneys. These should be avoided in patients with impaired kidney function.
Send your question on HIV to Health Editor,
The New Vision. P. O. Box 9815, Kampala or
health&beauty@ newvision.co.ug
My brother who has HIV, was put on antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) six months ago, but has not improved. Recently, he was diagnosed with kidney failure and doctors put him on dialysis. What is dialysis and what chance does he have to live if his kidneys are destroyed?
Kate
Dear Kate,
DIALYSIS a process by which toxins such as urea are separated from the blood of people whose kidneys have been damaged. Usually, these toxic substances are removed from the body by the kidneys and expelled through urine.
When the kidneys fail, the toxic substances accumulate in the body with harmful effects. There are two types of dialysis:
Haemodialysis, where the patient’s blood is pumped into a machine known as a dialyser, which removes the toxins from the blood. This has to be done in hospital about three times a week.
Peritoneal dialysis where the fluid for dialysing the patient is connected to the abdominal cavity, also known as the peritoneal cavity. This one does not require the patient to be admitted in hospital, but has to be done continuously.
Since you brother’s kidneys have failed, he has to be on dialysis for the rest of his life, unless he undergoes a kidney transplant, which cannot be done in Uganda.
The operation is expensive and you need to find a compatible donor (for the operation to take place). HIV can cause kidney failure in people living with AIDS when the virus attacks cells of the kidney. This is known as HIV-associated nephropathy.
Drugs such as antibiotics and ARVs such as Tenofovir, a common first line drug, could also cause it.
Indinavir, which is a second line antiretroviral drug, also affects kidneys. These should be avoided in patients with impaired kidney function.
Send your question on HIV to Health Editor,
The New Vision. P. O. Box 9815, Kampala or
health&beauty@ newvision.co.ug