Nephrology is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all kidney diseases. Numerous diseases come within this sphere: kidney stones, blood vessel diseases, inflammation (glomerulonephritis) or hereditary diseases (polycystic kidney disease), bacterial infections and tumours.
Patients frequently present at consultation with chronic renal failure due to complications associated with diabetes or high blood pressure. In kidney failure, dialysis can serve to replace the loss of kidney function. In end-stage kidney failure, the patient is only able to lead a “normal” life with a transplant.