KIDNEY DISEASES
Kidney diseases are common. Around 10% of the population suffers from chronic kidney diseases.1
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UK
3 million in the United Kingdom
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US
>37 million in the United States
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GLOBAL
>840 million globally
Kidney diseases are characterised by damage to the kidneys. As a consequence, the kidneys are not able to do their job properly – which is to maintain the balance of essential body function by filtering the blood, regulating water and eliminating waste products through urine.
The damage can be sudden (acute kidney disease or injury) or can happen slowly, over a longer period of time (chronic kidney disease). This damage leads to waste building up in the body, and several other health problems. Kidney diseases are often progressive, meaning that they get worse over time.
The damage to the kidneys causes scars (fibrosis) and is permanent and irreversible. If this damage is prolonged, this may lead to kidney failure. In that case, patients will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain their health. Early diagnosis is critical. The sooner patients know that they have kidney disease, the sooner they can make changes to protect their kidneys and their health.
We at Purespring have made it our mission to treat kidney diseases and do it as quickly as possible.
MORE
Because our two kidneys have a greater capacity to do their job than is needed to keep us healthy, people may not notice symptoms of kidney diseases until much longer after onset.
This great kidney capacity is also why we can donate one kidney and remain healthy with the second kidney. A patient can have kidney damage without any symptoms because, despite the damage, the kidneys are still doing enough work to keep them feeling well.
However, it is important to identify kidney disease as soon as possible, since the damage is not reversible, and to prevent it from getting worse. As kidney disease gets worse, a person may develop several symptoms. One of them is a swelling, called edema. Edema happens when the kidneys cannot eliminate the extra fluid and salt. In addition to edema, kidney disease can also lead to other symptoms, such as weight loss, tiredness, or blood in the urine, as well as other health conditions, such as heart disease.
At Purespring, we want to help patients living with kidney diseases who do not have satisfactory treatment options. Currently, no treatment options that have the potential to slow down or stop kidney disease progression are available. When most of the kidney function is lost, the condition is called end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients only have the option of dialysis or a kidney transplant.
These solutions may help patients feel better and live longer, but they also come with complications, require a special diet, and can affect day-to-day activities. Because there is a shortage of donor kidneys, a transplant may not be readily available, and dialysis has a detrimental impact on both quality of life and life expectancy.
REAL DIFFERENCE
Purespring is dedicated to making a real difference to patients suffering from kidney diseases.
We are working tirelessly to develop more advanced and better solutions for patients.
More information on kidney disease can be found on public sources such as the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, or the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US.
