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Kidney Health


Although they are small, the kidneys do invaluable work protecting the body. They process almost 200 litres of blood every day, to filter almost two litres of waste products and extra water, which then become urine. If the kidneys are not working well, this waste builds up in the blood and can damage the body.

The kidneys also play other crucial roles: They regulate mineral levels in the body, produce a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells, help regulate blood pressure, and process vitamin D into its active form, which we need to build healthy bones, maintain cardiovascular health, help guard against cancer and prevent depression, among other things. Monitoring your kidney function and keeping these powerful organs in good shape is essential for the long-term health of all people living with HIV.

Risk factors for kidney disease

Both HIV and various antiretroviral meds can take a toll on the kidneys, as can traditional risk factors.

HIV

People living with HIV whose CD4 count is below 200 or whose viral load is not controlled are at greater risk for kidney disease. When untreated HIV infection is the cause of kidney problems, antiretroviral therapy (ART) might help. Some antiretroviral medications, however, can cause kidney injury, also known as renal toxicity or nephrotoxicity.

Because HIV infection causes inflammation even in people with an undetectable viral load and because inflammation is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and kidney disease, people with HIV are at higher risk for kidney disease whether or not they have an undetectable viral load.

Antiretroviral medications

The HIV medication tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or TDF (Viread, also in Truvada, Atripla, Complera and Stribild) and certain protease inhibitors, such as atazanavir (Reyataz) and lopinavir/ritonavir (in Kaletra and generic formulations), all have the potential to cause kidney injury.

  • When it comes to the kidneys, TDF is the HIV medication that seems to be the greatest cause for concern. Although the overall risk of kidney is extremely low (less than one percent of people who take it experience serious kidney injury), many studies have shown that TDF use is associated with an increased risk of kidney disease. TDF use was also associated with higher levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). When PTH levels remain high, kidney function can become impaired.

PTH levels were more likely to be elevated among people with low vitamin D levels, leading the researchers to suggest that vitamin D supplementation for such individuals might protect against PTH elevation. So if you are taking TDF, you might want to talk to your healthcare provider about testing your vitamin D level and, if necessary, taking whatever amount of vitamin D supplementation is required. 

A new version of tenofovir called TAF (tenofovir alafenamide) is now available. It is found in Odefsey, Biktarvy and Descovy. Clinical trials of TAF-based regimens indicate that this formulation of tenofovir is relatively safer for the kidneys than a TDF-based regimen.

  • Atazanavir (Reyataz) can, in rare cases, cause kidney stones and a condition called interstitial nephritis. When a person has interstitial nephritis, the spaces between the kidneys’ filtering units— the nephrons, of which there are more than a million in each kidney—swell.

Other drugs

Many other prescription medications, over-the- counter meds, natural health products and street drugs can potentially have adverse effects on the kidneys. These include nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics and diuretics, intravenous acyclovir or valacyclovir (Valtrex), the antifungal drug amphotericin B (Fungizone), the cholesterol-lowering medicine rosuvastatin (Crestor), some weight loss supplements, cocaine, heroin and amphetamines, among many others. Also, drugs that don’t normally cause kidney damage on their own can sometimes interact with one another and thereby lead to kidney damage. This is why it’s so important that both your healthcare provider(s) and pharmacist know about all of the medications and drugs you are taking.

Smoking and alcohol

Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for kidney disease. When consumed in large amounts, alcohol can also damage the kidneys.

High blood pressure and diabetes

High blood pressure and diabetes are the two leading causes of kidney failure. People of colour are at higher risk for kidney disease in part because both high blood pressure and diabetes are more common among people of colour

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C infection can damage not only the liver but also the kidneys. People living with HIV who are co-infected with hepatitis C are at increased risk of chronic kidney disease and renal failure.

Tests

Moderate declines in kidney function rarely cause any noticeable symptoms. The body can function quite well with only 50 percent of normal kidney function. This is why many people can donate a kidney to someone in need and still lead healthy lives. However, serious health problems generally occur when a person’s kidney function drops to less than 25 percent. When a person’s kidney function falls to 10 to 15 percent, kidney dialysis (a treatment that helps the body filter waste) is required until a transplant can be obtained.

Symptoms that can occur with seriously decreased kidney function include:

  • the need to urinate more or less often
  • fatigue or drowsiness
  • appetite loss
  • nausea and vomiting
  • swelling in the hands or feet
  • feeling itchy or numb
  • difficulty concentrating
  • darkened skin
  • muscle cramps

To screen for kidney damage, your healthcare provider may order one or more of the following simple tests:

  • Blood pressure test – High blood pressure is not only a risk factor for kidney disease but can also be a result of kidney damage, so an increase in blood pressure can be an important indicator.
  • A test to check for protein in the urine – Normally, protein is not found in a person’s urine. With kidney damage, the kidneys may fail to separate blood proteins, such as albumin, from the waste they are filtering. Initially, only small amounts of albumin leak into the urine (a condition known as microalbuminuria). When kidney damage progresses, the amount of albumin and other proteins in the urine increases (a condition called proteinuria).
  • A blood test to measure creatinine and calculate eGFR – Creatinine is a waste product from the muscles that the kidneys normally filter out. When the kidneys aren’t working properly, creatinine builds up in the blood. This test is used to calculate your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), which indicates how well your kidneys are doing their job of filtering waste from the blood.
  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) – This test measures the amount of urea nitrogen that’s in your blood. After cells use protein, the blood carries away the waste product as urea and then the urea is filtered out by the kidneys into the urine. A BUN test can reveal whether elevated levels of urea remain in the blood; if so, the kidneys may not be fully functional.
  • Other tests – Your healthcare provider may recommend additional tests to monitor the amount of sugar, protein and phosphorous in the urine and the blood, depending on which HIV medications you are taking.

If the above tests indicate serious kidney dysfunction, your healthcare provider may order kidney imaging tests—an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI—or a biopsy.

Protecting the kidneys

If tests reveal kidney damage, it is important to immediately address anything that could be contributing to this problem. If you are currently taking a drug that could be to blame, your healthcare provider might suggest replacing it with a different one. (Note that you should never stop taking an HIV medication without discussing it with your healthcare provider first.) If your healthcare provider suggests discontinuing TDF, the problem may not resolve immediately but at least you might be able to prevent your symptoms from worsening.

Here are some other ways that you can protect your kidneys and prevent kidney damage from worsening:

  • Control your blood glucose and prevent the blood sugar elevations that can damage kidneys 
  • Eat a low-protein diet. High levels of protein can damage the kidneys, particularly when some level of dysfunction is already present.
  • Avoid smoking. Smoking increases the risk of kidney disease and contributes to deaths from strokes and heart attacks in people with chronic kidney disease.
  • Consume enough fluids, but not too much! Although a healthy intake of water and other fluids is generally good for the kidneys, it is possible to drink too much, which can be hard on the kidneys if they are already significantly damaged.
  • Maintain a healthy blood pressure and do everything possible to prevent cardiovascular damage, which can worsen kidney damage (see “Cardiovascular Health”).
  • Take an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker, two blood pressure medications that can protect the kidneys.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones are an entirely different problem, unrelated to chronic kidney damage. If you or someone you know has ever had kidney stones, you probably know that they can cause severe pain. But the upside is they rarely do significant long-term damage.

A kidney stone is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals that stick together. A kidney stone can be as small as a grain of salt or as large as a lime. One or more stones can be in the kidney or ureter (the thin tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder) at the same time. In general, stones form when the urine contains too much of certain crystal-forming substances, which then become stones, a process that can take weeks or even months.

Kidney stones tend to be more common among people who live in warmer climates. Part of the reason for this is that kidney stones develop when your urine has a higher concentration of minerals or crystals, which is more likely to happen when people sweat more.

People who don’t drink enough fluids are also more likely to develop kidney stones.

A few antiretrovirals have been known to cause kidney stones or a similar problem called “sludge,” including the old protease inhibitor indinavir (Crixivan) and, much less commonly, atazanavir (Reyataz) and possibly efavirenz (Sustiva and in Atripla and generic formulations). Other medications that can cause stones to form include the anti-herpes drug acyclovir and its other form valacyclovir (Valtrex); a diuretic called triamterene, used to treat fluid retention in people with liver or heart disease and other conditions; the antibiotic combo trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (Septra/Bactrim), used to prevent and treat pneumonia and bacterial infections in people with HIV; and the antifungal drug amphotericin B (Fungizone).

Different kinds of kidney stones

Calcium stones are by far the most common type of kidney stone. They can occur at any age but are most common in cisgender men. Calcium combines with other substances, such as oxalate or phosphate, to form the stone.

You may want to increase your fluid intake to increase the amount of urine that flows through the kidneys. This will reduce the concentrations of calcium, oxalate and phosphate that are necessary for kidney stone formation. You may also want to limit the amount of sugar and salt you consume, as these can cause your body to excrete more calcium and oxalate in the urine. Consuming more fibre—by eating more fruit, vegetables and whole grains—may also limit your calcium output. Some studies have shown that a magnesium deficiency, relatively common among people living with HIV, can increase the risk of kidney stones. Conversely, the combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 can substantially reduce the formation of calcium oxalate stones, so taking a multivitamin that contains these nutrients may help. To check whether your oxalate output is normal or too high, your healthcare provider can run a urine test for oxalate.

Uric acid stones most commonly occur in people with gout, and they affect more cisgender men than cisgender women. They can also occur as a result of some types of chemotherapy. Consuming foods that boost the body’s production of uric acid increases the risk for these stones.

Such foods include liver and other organ meats, shellfish, some fish (especially sardines, mackerel, anchovies and herring) and beer. In addition, fructose (contained in high-fructose corn syrup, sugar and many foods and drinks) rapidly raises uric acid levels. If you tend to develop uric acid stones, cutting way back on these foods can decrease your risk. A blood test to measure your level of uric acid can help you know if you are at risk.

Struvite stones generally occur in women who have a urinary tract infection. These stones can become so large that they block the kidney, ureter or bladder.

Cystine stones generally run in families and form when the kidneys excrete too much of the amino acid cystine.

Symptoms of kidney stones

The most common symptoms of kidney stones include:

  • severe pain that starts suddenly and may disappear suddenly. The pain is usually felt in the lower back and sides or belly and may also be felt in the groin area. In some cases, the pain may start off dull and then turn into a sharp pain.
  • difficult or painful urination or an inability to urinate
  • dark urine or urine that contains blood
  • nausea and vomiting
  • chills and/or fever

If you develop these symptoms, notify your healthcare provider or go to your local hospital as soon as possible. If treatment is delayed, damage to the kidney or other serious complications can occur.

Your healthcare provider may run one or more tests to help determine whether or not you have a kidney stone and, if so, which type. These tests include:

  • a physical exam of the belly area (abdomen) or back
  • blood tests to check calcium, phosphorus, uric acid and electrolyte levels
  • kidney function tests
  • urinalysis to check for crystals and red blood cells in urine
  • laboratory analysis of the stone to determine the type

In some cases, imaging studies are done—for example, a CT scan, MRI, X-ray, intravenous pyelogram, retrograde pyelogram or ultrasound—to see the location and extent of stones.

Preventing and treating kidney stones

The biggest risk factor for kidney stones is not drinking enough fluids. Kidney stones are more likely to occur if you produce less than one litre (slightly over a quart) of urine a day. If you suffer from kidney stones, consume at least 1.5 litres of “good” fluids each day, such as water, herbal tea, vegetable juice or broth, unless you have other medical conditions that prevent you from doing so.

Drink even more water in very hot weather, when dancing, playing sports or exercising, or if you have diarrhea or have been vomiting. Remember that alcohol and caffeine can be dehydrating. Beverages containing either of these can increase your need for water and other good fluids. In some cases, medications may be prescribed to help prevent the formation of stones.

If you develop kidney stones despite your best efforts, the treatment will depend on the type of stones you have. In many cases, with enough fluid intake, the stone will eventually pass on its own. Your  healthcare provider may prescribe medications to help break down and remove the material that is causing the stone. If a stone is too large to pass on its own, or if it is growing, blocking urine flow or causing an infection or kidney damage, and/or if pain is too severe to be controlled, other techniques may be used. If the stone is small enough (less than half an inch, or roughly 13 millimetres) and located near the kidney or ureter, a therapy that uses sound or shock waves to break up the stone so it can leave the body in the urine may be used. For larger stones, procedures may be used in which a tube is inserted to remove the stone. When none of these methods are possible, surgery may be needed, though this is rare.