{"id":152,"date":"2018-11-19T15:29:09","date_gmt":"2018-11-19T15:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/?page_id=152"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:10:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:10:39","slug":"about-kidney-disease","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"About kidneys and kidney disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t<h2>About kidneys and kidney disease<\/h2>\n<p>Patients and family members often have a lot of questions about the kidneys and kidney disease. The kidneys are complex organs that control blood chemistry, blood pressure and the amount of fluid in the body. Kidneys are as vital as our heart.<\/p>\n<p>Get information about the kidneys, find out what the kidneys do and understand what kidney disease is and the stages of it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/what-the-kidneys-do\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet kidney information\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/am-i-at-risk\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/Diabetes-panorama-0bdfc286823565f4b1d1cc98dc6caf75-.jpg\" alt=\"Diabetes\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" title=\"Diabetes\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/Diabetes-panorama-0bdfc286823565f4b1d1cc98dc6caf75-.jpg\" alt=\"Diabetes\" height=\"300\" width=\"450\" title=\"Diabetes\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/am-i-at-risk\/\" target=\"_self\">Am I at risk?<\/a><\/h4><p>Kidney disease can affect anyone at any age. However, certain factors may mean you&#8217;re at greater risk.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/am-i-at-risk\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead about risk factors\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/when-kidneys-go-wrong\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/General-image-lab-research-1000x665-panorama-01377fd99ef90f5ccaa4436e3c85f978-.jpg\" alt=\"General image - lab research\" height=\"665\" width=\"1000\" title=\"General image - lab research\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/General-image-lab-research-1000x665-panorama-01377fd99ef90f5ccaa4436e3c85f978-.jpg\" alt=\"General image - lab research\" height=\"665\" width=\"1000\" title=\"General image - lab research\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/when-kidneys-go-wrong\/\" target=\"_self\">What happens if your kidneys go wrong?<\/a><\/h4><p>Kidneys can develop abnormalities or stop working properly for many reasons.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/when-kidneys-go-wrong\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out what happens\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/how-is-kidney-disease-diagnosed\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/shutterstock_2296150219-1-panorama-8d5c3d21098f8ee6bb73944c74b796c3-.jpg\" alt=\"Urology and treatment of kidney disease. Doctor doing kidney exam for male patient with kidney disease, soft focus\" height=\"620\" width=\"1000\" title=\"Urology,And,Treatment,Of,Kidney,Disease.,Doctor,Doing,Kidney,Exam\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/shutterstock_2296150219-1-panorama-8d5c3d21098f8ee6bb73944c74b796c3-.jpg\" alt=\"Urology and treatment of kidney disease. Doctor doing kidney exam for male patient with kidney disease, soft focus\" height=\"620\" width=\"1000\" title=\"Urology,And,Treatment,Of,Kidney,Disease.,Doctor,Doing,Kidney,Exam\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/how-is-kidney-disease-diagnosed\/\" target=\"_self\">How is kidney disease diagnosed?<\/a><\/h4><p>Find out about the signs of kidney disease and the tests used to diagnose it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/how-is-kidney-disease-diagnosed\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDiagnosing kidney disease\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/stages-of-kidney-disease\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/laboratory-2815641-panorama-00c78bea7b1209854388d162479b37d9-.jpg\" alt=\"laboratory-2815641\" height=\"2000\" width=\"3000\" title=\"laboratory-2815641\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/laboratory-2815641-panorama-00c78bea7b1209854388d162479b37d9-.jpg\" alt=\"laboratory-2815641\" height=\"2000\" width=\"3000\" title=\"laboratory-2815641\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/stages-of-kidney-disease\/\" target=\"_self\">What are the stages of kidney disease?<\/a><\/h4><p>There are various stages ranging from mild loss to complete kidney failure.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/stages-of-kidney-disease\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFInd out about the stages\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/what-to-expect-when-visiting-your-doctor\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/medical_general-1-1000x650-panorama-83ab35f24a97fc5e5891347252a564b7-.jpg\" alt=\"medical_general\" height=\"650\" width=\"1000\" title=\"medical_general\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/medical_general-1-1000x650-panorama-83ab35f24a97fc5e5891347252a564b7-.jpg\" alt=\"medical_general\" height=\"650\" width=\"1000\" title=\"medical_general\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/what-to-expect-when-visiting-your-doctor\/\" target=\"_self\">What should I expect when I visit my doctor?<\/a><\/h4><p>Advise on how to prepare for an appointment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/what-to-expect-when-visiting-your-doctor\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet appointment advice\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/living-with-one-kidney\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/kidneys-panorama-648ba91fef728c361bae7537baf9475f-.jpg\" alt=\"kidneys\" height=\"320\" width=\"984\" title=\"kidneys\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/kidneys-panorama-648ba91fef728c361bae7537baf9475f-.jpg\" alt=\"kidneys\" height=\"320\" width=\"984\" title=\"kidneys\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/living-with-one-kidney\/\" target=\"_self\">Can I live with one kidney?<\/a><\/h4><p>Kidneys perform many functions but it&#8217;s not unusual to have only one kidney to do the work of two.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/living-with-one-kidney\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLiving with one kidney information\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/organ-donor-register\/\"  target=\"_self\" itemprop=\"url\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/CKD-iStock-501671532-general-kidney-image-panorama-cf0f594ef39e32a90f0b8db10e0d2d65-.jpg\" alt=\"Human kidney cross section\" height=\"2400\" width=\"3600\" title=\"Human kidney cross section\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/CKD-iStock-501671532-general-kidney-image-panorama-cf0f594ef39e32a90f0b8db10e0d2d65-.jpg\" alt=\"Human kidney cross section\" height=\"2400\" width=\"3600\" title=\"Human kidney cross section\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/organ-donor-register\/\" target=\"_self\">How do I donate a kidney?<\/a><\/h4><p>Find out more about organ donation and how to register your decision on organ donor register.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/questions-about-kidney-disease\/organ-donor-register\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOrgan donation information\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<h2>\n\t\t\tSearch for a common kidney conditions\t<\/h2>\n\t<div id=\"conditions-symptoms-search\" class=\"boldlight-custom-search\">\n\t<form autocomplete=\"nope\">\n\t<div class=\"ui-widget input-group mb-3\">\n\t\t\t<input id=\"conditions-symptoms\" type=\"text\" class=\"form-control\" autocomplete=\"nope\" placeholder=\"Find a condition or symptom\" aria-label=\"Find a condition or symptom\" \/><i id=\"c-s-load\" class=\"fa fa-circle-o-notch fa-spin\" style=\"font-size:24px; display:none\"><\/i>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<script>\n\tjQuery( function($) {\n\t\n\t\/\/$(\".search-result\").hide();\n\n    var availableTags = [\n       { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/nephrotic-syndrome\/\", label:\"Nephrotic syndrome\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/blood-in-urine\/\", label:\"Blood in urine (haematuria)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/glomerulonephritis\/\", label:\"Glomerulonephritis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/proteinuria\/\", label:\"Proteinuria\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/lupus\/\", label:\"Lupus\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/lupus\/\", label:\"Systemic lupus erythematosus\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/lupus\/\", label:\" SLE\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/lupus\/\", label:\"\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/blood-pressure\/\", label:\"Blood pressure and kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/symptoms-of-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Symptoms of kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/acute-kidney-injury\/\", label:\"Acute kidney injury\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/anaemia\/\", label:\"Anaemia\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/atherosclerotic-renovascular-disease\/\", label:\"Atherosclerotic renovascular disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/atherosclerotic-renovascular-disease\/\", label:\"ARVD\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/atypical-haemolytic-uraemic-syndrome\/\", label:\"Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/atypical-haemolytic-uraemic-syndrome\/\", label:\"AHUS\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Chronic kidney disease (CKD)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"CKD\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/focal-and-segmental-glomerulosclerosis\/\", label:\"Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/focal-and-segmental-glomerulosclerosis\/\", label:\"FSGS\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/haemolytic-uraemic-syndrome\/\", label:\"Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/haemolytic-uraemic-syndrome\/\", label:\"HUS\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/iga-nephropathy\/\", label:\"IgA nephropathy (IgAN)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/iga-nephropathy\/\", label:\"IgAN\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/iga-nephropathy\/\", label:\" Berger\u2019s Disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/iga-nephropathy\/\", label:\"\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/kidney-cancer\/\", label:\"Kidney cancer\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/polycystic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Polycystic kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/polycystic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"PKD\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/polycystic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\" Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/polycystic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\" Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/vesico-uretal-reflux\/\", label:\"Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/vesico-uretal-reflux\/\", label:\"VUR\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/vesico-uretal-reflux\/\", label:\" reflux\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/hyperkalaemia\/\", label:\"Hyperkalaemia  (high potassium)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/peritonitis\/\", label:\"Peritonitis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/secondary-hyperparathyroidism\/\", label:\"Secondary hyperparathyroidism\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/urinary-tract-infections\/\", label:\"Urinary tract infections (UTIs)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/cardiovascular-disease-and-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Cardiovascular disease and kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/diabetes\/\", label:\"Diabetes and kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/alport-syndrome\/\", label:\"Alport syndrome\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/bk-virus\/\", label:\"BK virus-associated nephropathy\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/bk-virus\/\", label:\"BK virus\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/bk-virus\/\", label:\" BKVAN\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/bk-virus\/\", label:\" BKN\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/cytomegalovirus\/\", label:\"Cytomegalovirus (CMV)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/cytomegalovirus\/\", label:\"Cytomegalovirus\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/cytomegalovirus\/\", label:\" CMV\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/calciphylaxis\/\", label:\"Calciphylaxis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/idiopathic-nephrotic-syndrome\/\", label:\"Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/idiopathic-nephrotic-syndrome\/\", label:\"INS\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/rare-and-hereditary-kidney-diseases\/\", label:\"Rare and hereditary kidney diseases\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/rare-and-hereditary-kidney-diseases\/\", label:\"rare kidney conditions. rare kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/kidney-stones\/\", label:\"Kidney stones\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/hypernatraemia\/\", label:\"Hypernatraemia (high sodium)\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/hypernatraemia\/\", label:\"High sodium in the blood\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/cystinuria\/\", label:\"Cystinuria\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/iga-vasculitis\/\", label:\"Immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis\u202f\u202f\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/iga-vasculitis\/\", label:\"IgA vasculitis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/iga-vasculitis\/\", label:\" Henoch-Sch\u00f6nlein Purpura\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/cystinosis\/\", label:\"Cystinosis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/estimated-glomerular-filtration-rate\/\", label:\"Estimated glomerular filtration rate\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/estimated-glomerular-filtration-rate\/\", label:\"eGFR\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/dialysis\/\", label:\"Dialysis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/dialysis\/\", label:\"Haemodialysis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/dialysis\/\", label:\" Peritoneal dialysis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/anca-vasculitis\/\", label:\"ANCA-vasculitis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/anca-vasculitis\/\", label:\"Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/goodpasture-syndrome\/\", label:\"Goodpasture syndrome\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/goodpasture-syndrome\/\", label:\"anti-glomerular basement membrane disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/goodpasture-syndrome\/\", label:\"  anti-GBM\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-1-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 1 chronic kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-1-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 1 (CKD) \"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-2-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 2 chronic kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-2-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 2 (CKD) \"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-3-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 3 chronic kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-3-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 3 CKD \"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-4-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 4 chronic kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-4-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 4 CKD \"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-5-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 5 chronic kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-5-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Stage 5 CKD\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/stage-5-chronic-kidney-disease\/\", label:\" kidney failure\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/post-transplant-lymphoproliferative-disorder\/\", label:\"Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/post-transplant-lymphoproliferative-disorder\/\", label:\"PTLD\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/membranoproliferative-glomerulonephritis\/\", label:\"Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/gout-and-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Gout and kidney disease\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/gout-and-kidney-disease\/\", label:\"Gout\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/hydronephrosis\/\", label:\"Hydronephrosis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/skin-cancer\/\", label:\"Skin cancer\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/skin-cancer\/\", label:\"skin cancer\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/skin-cancer\/\", label:\" basal cell carcinoma\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/tuberculosis\/\", label:\"Tuberculosis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/tuberculosis\/\", label:\"TB\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/metabolic-acidosis\/\", label:\"Metabolic acidosis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/hyponatraemia\/\", label:\"Hyponatraemia\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/nephronophthisis\/\", label:\"Nephronophthisis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/nephronophthisis\/\", label:\"NPHP\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/kidney-infections\/\", label:\"Kidney infections\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/kidney-infections\/\", label:\"Urinary tract infections\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/kidney-infections\/\", label:\" pyelonephritis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/congenital-anomalies-of-the-kidney-and-urinary-tract\/\", label:\"Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/congenital-anomalies-of-the-kidney-and-urinary-tract\/\", label:\"CAKUT\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/kidney-atrophy\/\", label:\"Kidney atrophy\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/renal-artery-stenosis\/\", label:\"Renal artery stenosis\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/membranous-nephropathy\/\", label:\"Membranous nephropathy\"},  { dest: \"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/conditions-symptoms\/kidney-cysts\/\", label:\"Kidney cysts\"},     ];\n\n\t$( \"#conditions-symptoms\" ).on('keypress', function(e){\n\t\t\/\/console.log('keypressed: ' + e.key);\n\t\tif (e.key == 'Enter'){\n\t\t\te.preventDefault();\n\t\t\twindow.location.href = 'https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/kidney-conditions-symptoms\/';\n\t\t}\n\t});\n    \n    $( \"#conditions-symptoms\" ).autocomplete({\n      source: availableTags,\n      minLength: 3,\n      select: function( event, ui ) { \n      \t\t$('#c-s-load').show();\n            window.location.href = ui.item.dest;\n            \/\/console.log(\"b\");\n\n        }\n    });\n    \n  \t$(\"#conditions-symptoms-find\").click(function(event){\n  \t\t\n  \t\t$('#conditions-symptoms').blur();\n  \t\tevent.preventDefault(); \/\/ do not submit form\n  \t\t\n  \t\t\/\/-- button likely to be removed --\/\/\n  \t\t\/*$(\".search-result\").hide();\n  \t\t\n  \t\tsearch_name = $(\"#conditions-symptoms\").val().toLowerCase();\n  \t\t\n  \t\tresult_sets = $('div[data-title*=\"'+search_name+'\"]');\n  \t\t\n  \t\tif(result_sets){\n  \t\t\tresult_sets.show();\n  \t\t}\n  \t\t*\/\n  \t\t$('#conditions-symptoms').focus(); \n  \t});\n  } );\n\t<\/script>\n\n\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/kidney-conditions-symptoms\/\">See all<\/a><\/p>\n<figure itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Health-Check-illustration-1.png\" alt=\"handholdingurine2\" height=\"1250\" width=\"2000\" title=\"handholdingurine2\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Health-Check-illustration-1.png\" alt=\"handholdingurine2\" height=\"1250\" width=\"2000\" title=\"handholdingurine2\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/noscript>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t<h2>Worried about your kidneys?<\/h2>\n<p>Take our free kidney health check today to see if you&#8217;re at risk of kidney disease.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidneyhealthcheck\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTake our kidney health check\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t<h2>Accelerating research through innovation<\/h2>\n\t<h2>How can research transform lives?<\/h2>\n<p>Jelina&#8217;s kidneys started failing at the age of 18 and after a bout of flu in 2005, had no option but to start dialysis three times a week. Thanks to research, after four year on dialysis, Jelina had a successful kidney transplant.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kidneyresearchuk.org\/research\/\"  target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out  more about research\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HHTCc03_kUQ\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\t\n\t<h2>Got a question? Get in touch.<\/h2>\n\t<p>For more information or if you have any questions, get in touch with our Supporter Care Team who are here to help.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are\u00a0simple\u00a0kidney cysts?\u00a0 Kidney cysts\u00a0are fluid-filled sacs that can\u00a0develop\u00a0in\u00a0one or both kidneys.\u00a0You might have one\u00a0kidney\u00a0cyst or several.\u00a0These cysts are\u00a0usually round or oval shaped.\u00a0 There are several reasons why kidney cysts can develop.\u00a0This information page\u00a0is focused on simple kidney cysts.\u00a0Simple kidney cysts\u00a0are the most common type of kidney cyst and\u00a0usually\u00a0develop\u00a0with\u00a0age.\u00a0\u00a0 Often, simple kidney cysts do not&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3685,"parent":23,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-152","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What do kidneys do? | About kidneys<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Information and advice on kidneys, from understanding what the kidneys do to the stages of kidney disease.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What do kidneys do? | About kidneys\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Information and advice on kidneys, from understanding what the kidneys do to the stages of kidney disease.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Kidney Research UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kidneyresearchuk\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-05T13:10:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kidneys-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"776\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Kidney_Research\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/about-kidney-disease\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/about-kidney-disease\\\/\",\"name\":\"What do kidneys do? | About kidneys\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/about-kidney-disease\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/about-kidney-disease\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/05\\\/kidneys-2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-11-19T15:29:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-05T13:10:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"Information and advice on kidneys, from understanding what the kidneys do to the stages of kidney disease.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/about-kidney-disease\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/about-kidney-disease\\\/\"]}],\"about\":{\"@id\":\"#\\\/medical-condition\\\/\"},\"audience\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\\\/Patient\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/about-kidney-disease\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/05\\\/kidneys-2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/05\\\/kidneys-2.jpg\",\"width\":776,\"height\":300},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/about-kidney-disease\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Kidney health information\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/kidney-health-information\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"About kidneys and kidney disease\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/\",\"name\":\"Kidney Research UK\",\"description\":\"Kidney disease ends here.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Kidney Research UK\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/kruk-logo_small.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/07\\\/kruk-logo_small.png\",\"width\":230,\"height\":83,\"caption\":\"Kidney Research UK\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/kidneyresearchuk\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/Kidney_Research\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/kidney_research_uk\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/kidney-research-uk\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/KidneyResearchUK\",\"https:\\\/\\\/en.wikipedia.org\\\/wiki\\\/Kidney_Research_UK\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.tiktok.com\\\/@kidney_research_uk\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What do kidneys do? | About kidneys","description":"Information and advice on kidneys, from understanding what the kidneys do to the stages of kidney disease.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"What do kidneys do? | About kidneys","og_description":"Information and advice on kidneys, from understanding what the kidneys do to the stages of kidney disease.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/","og_site_name":"Kidney Research UK","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kidneyresearchuk","article_modified_time":"2026-05-05T13:10:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":776,"height":300,"url":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kidneys-2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@Kidney_Research","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/","url":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/","name":"What do kidneys do? | About kidneys","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kidneys-2.jpg","datePublished":"2018-11-19T15:29:09+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-05T13:10:39+00:00","description":"Information and advice on kidneys, from understanding what the kidneys do to the stages of kidney disease.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/"]}],"about":{"@id":"#\/medical-condition\/"},"audience":"https:\/\/schema.org\/Patient"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kidneys-2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/kidneys-2.jpg","width":776,"height":300},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/about-kidney-disease\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Kidney health information","item":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/kidney-health-information\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"About kidneys and kidney disease"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/","name":"Kidney Research UK","description":"Kidney disease ends here.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/#organization","name":"Kidney Research UK","url":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kruk-logo_small.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kruk-logo_small.png","width":230,"height":83,"caption":"Kidney Research UK"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kidneyresearchuk","https:\/\/x.com\/Kidney_Research","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kidney_research_uk\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/kidney-research-uk\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/KidneyResearchUK","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kidney_Research_UK","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@kidney_research_uk"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/152\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kidneyresearchuk.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}