Plain-language summaries
Condition guides begin with concise descriptions and link to additional information where available.
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Kidney conditions, explained in plain language
Kidney conditions affect how your body filters waste, balances fluids and supports your overall health. Browse 245 guides across 21 categories, with related treatments and care options.
245Conditions covered
21Condition categories
5Verified specialist network
What are the main types of kidney disease?
Kidney conditions are often grouped by what causes them and how quickly they develop. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progresses over time, while acute kidney injury (AKI) develops suddenly. Other groups include kidney stones, inherited conditions, glomerular diseases and infections. This overview is educational and cannot identify an individual diagnosis.
Acute or chronicTwo broad patterns describe how quickly a condition develops.
CKD stages 1–5Clinicians use measures such as eGFR to assess kidney function.
Early signs can be subtleSome kidney conditions have few noticeable symptoms at first.
Start here
Common kidney conditions
Explore concise summaries of conditions people often want to understand. Each guide links to related care where available.
Chronic & Acute
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Progressive, long-term loss of kidney function.
Read the guideStones
Nephrolithiasis (Kidney Stones)
Hard mineral deposits in kidneys causing pain.
Read the guideChronic & Acute
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Final stage of kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant.
Read the guideMetabolic
Diabetic Nephropathy
Kidney damage caused by diabetes mellitus.
Read the guideGenetic
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Inherited disorder with fluid-filled cysts in kidneys.
Read the guideChronic & Acute
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
Sudden loss of kidney function due to injury, infection, or toxins.
Read the guideInfectious
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Infection of urinary system including kidneys and bladder.
Read the guideFull directory
Browse every kidney condition by category
Search by name or filter by category. Each condition links to a dedicated guide.
Infectious
Kidney infections and related complications
No conditions match this category search.
- Aspergillus Pyelonephritis
- BK Virus Nephropathy
- Brucellosis Nephritis
- Candidiasis of Kidney
- Chronic Pyelonephritis
- COVID-19–Associated Nephropathy
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Nephritis
- Dengue-Associated AKI
- Echinococcosis (Hydatid Cyst)
- Epstein-Barr Virus Nephritis
- Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) Nephritis
- Fungal Pyelonephritis
- Hantavirus Nephropathy
- Hepatitis B Nephropathy
- Hepatitis C Nephropathy
- Histoplasmosis Nephritis
- HIV-Associated Nephropathy (HIVAN)
- Influenza-Associated AKI
- Leishmaniasis Nephritis
- Leptospirosis Kidney Disease
- Plasmodium Malariae Nephropathy
- Post-Infectious GN
- Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis
- Pyelonephritis
- Renal Abscess
- Schistosomiasis Nephropathy
- Sepsis-Associated AKI
- Septic AKI
- Syphilitic Nephritis
- Tuberculosis of Kidney
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Zika Virus Nephropathy
Toxic
Kidney damage associated with medicines, drugs or toxins
No conditions match this category search.
- ACE Inhibitor–Induced AKI
- Acyclovir Nephropathy
- Aminoglycoside Nephrotoxicity
- Amphotericin B Nephrotoxicity
- Analgesic Nephropathy
- Analgesic Nephropathy
- ARB-Induced AKI
- Aristolochic Acid Nephropathy
- Cadmium Nephropathy
- Chemotherapy-Associated TMA
- Chemotherapy-Related Nephropathy
- Chinese Herb Nephropathy
- Cisplatin Nephrotoxicity
- Contrast-Induced Nephropathy
- Drug-Induced Crystalline Nephropathy
- Heavy Metal Nephropathy
- Herbal Supplement–Induced Stones
- Herbal-Induced Kidney Injury
- Ifosfamide Nephrotoxicity
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Nephritis
- Lead Nephropathy
- Lithium-Induced Nephropathy
- Mercury Nephropathy
- Methotrexate Nephrotoxicity
- NSAID-Induced Interstitial Nephritis
- Proton Pump Inhibitor Nephritis
- Radiation Nephritis
- Statin-Induced Rhabdomyolysis
- Tenofovir Nephrotoxicity
- Vancomycin Nephrotoxicity
Genetic
Inherited kidney disorders passed through families
No conditions match this category search.
- Alport Syndrome
- Bardet–Biedl Syndrome
- Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome
- Cystinosis
- Cystinuria
- Dent’s Disease
- Fabry Disease
- Fraser Syndrome
- Frasier Syndrome
- Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer (HLRCC)
- Joubert Syndrome
- Lowe Syndrome (Oculocerebrorenal Syndrome)
- Meckel-Gruber Syndrome
- Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease
- Mitochondrial Cytopathies (Renal Involvement)
- Nail–Patella Syndrome
- Nephronophthisis
- Pierson Syndrome
- Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
- Primary Hyperoxaluria
- Sickle Cell Nephropathy
- Thin Basement Membrane Disease
- Townes–Brocks Syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
- VACTERL Association
- Von Hippel–Lindau Disease
Autoimmune
Conditions where the immune system affects kidney tissue
No conditions match this category search.
- Anti-GBM Disease
- Behçet’s Nephropathy
- C3 Glomerulopathy
- Castleman Disease (Renal Manifestations)
- Churg-Strauss Syndrome (EGPA)
- Complement-Mediated TMA
- Cryofibrinogenemia Nephropathy
- Cryoglobulinemic Glomerulonephritis
- Goodpasture’s Syndrome
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Wegener’s)
- Henoch-Schönlein Purpura Nephritis
- IgG4-Related Kidney Disease
- Lupus Nephritis
- Microscopic Polyangiitis
- Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)
- Polyarteritis Nodosa
- Rheumatoid Nephropathy
- Sarcoidosis Nephritis
- Scleroderma Renal Crisis
- Sjögren’s Nephritis
- Takayasu Arteritis
- Vasculitis (ANCA-Associated)
Metabolic
Disorders affecting kidney metabolism and function
No conditions match this category search.
- Amyloid Light-Chain (AL) Amyloidosis
- Amyloidosis
- Diabetic Nephropathy
- Gouty Nephropathy
- Heavy Chain Deposition Disease
- Hypercalcemic Nephropathy
- Hyperuricemic Nephropathy
- Light Chain Deposition Disease
- Multiple Myeloma Kidney
- Myeloma Cast Nephropathy
- Nephrocalcinosis
- Obesity-Related Glomerulopathy
- Oxalosis
- Rhabdomyolysis-Induced AKI
- Secondary Amyloidosis (AA)
- Secondary Hyperoxaluria
- Tumor Lysis Syndrome
- Uric Acid Nephropathy
Structural
Anatomical abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract
No conditions match this category search.
- Calyceal Diverticulum
- Duplex Kidney
- Horseshoe Kidney
- Hydronephrosis
- Medullary Sponge Kidney
- Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney (MCDK)
- Obstructive Uropathy
- Peripelvic Cyst
- Renal Ptosis
- Urachal Cyst
- Ureterocele
- Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction
- Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)
- Vesicoureteral Reflux Nephropathy
Vascular
Blood vessel disorders affecting the kidneys
No conditions match this category search.
Glomerular
Conditions affecting the kidney’s filtering units
No conditions match this category search.
- Crescentic Glomerulonephritis
- Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
- Glomerulonephritis
- IgA Nephropathy (Berger’s Disease)
- Membranoproliferative GN (MPGN)
- Membranous Nephropathy
- Minimal Change Disease (MCD)
- Paraproteinemia-Related Kidney Disease
- Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome
- Posterior Urethral Valves
- Rapidly Progressive GN
Congenital
Conditions present from birth or early development
No conditions match this category search.
Cancer
Tumours affecting the kidneys
No conditions match this category search.
Urologic
Urological conditions affecting kidney function
No conditions match this category search.
Endocrine
Hormonal disorders affecting kidney function
No conditions match this category search.
Stones
Kidney stone formation and related conditions
No conditions match this category search.
Transplant
Conditions and complications related to kidney transplantation
No conditions match this category search.
Acute
Sudden-onset kidney conditions
No conditions match this category search.
Electrolyte
Disorders involving the body’s fluid and mineral balance
No conditions match this category search.
Dialysis
Conditions related to dialysis treatment
No conditions match this category search.
Chronic
Long-term kidney diseases
No conditions match this category search.
Chronic & Acute
Conditions that can present in sudden or long-term forms
No conditions match this category search.
Environmental
Kidney damage associated with environmental exposures
No conditions match this category search.
Trauma
Physical injuries affecting the kidneys
No conditions match this category search.
No conditions match that search. Try another term or choose a different category.
Why you can trust this
How KidneyGlobal keeps medical content reliable
Kidney health is an important topic. Use these guides to learn the basics, explore related care and prepare questions for a qualified clinician.
Related care options
Explore linked treatments, clinics and specialists when those relationships are available.
Specialist credentials
Provider profiles display their verification status. A directory listing is not a guarantee of clinical outcomes.
Current category counts
Category labels and counts come from published condition entries and update with the directory.
Use it to prepare questions
Symptoms can overlap. A clinician can interpret symptoms and test results in your personal context.
Your information stays yours
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Common questions
Kidney conditions: quick answers
What is the difference between acute and chronic kidney disease?
Acute kidney injury (AKI) develops suddenly, over hours or days, and can improve when its cause is treated. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) develops over time and is long-term, though care can often slow its progression. A clinician can explain what applies to your situation.
What are common causes of kidney disease?
Diabetes and high blood pressure are common causes of long-term kidney damage. Other causes include inherited conditions, glomerular diseases, infections, kidney stones and some medicines or toxins.
Can kidney problems have no early symptoms?
Some kidney conditions cause few noticeable symptoms early on. Only a clinician can decide whether tests are appropriate and interpret the results in context.
Can kidney disease be reversed or cured?
It depends on the condition. Some acute kidney injuries improve when the cause is treated; chronic kidney disease is usually managed over time. Ask your clinician about your diagnosis and treatment options.
Which doctor treats kidney conditions?
A nephrologist specializes in kidney disease. A urologist treats many structural conditions involving the urinary tract. The right specialist depends on the condition and your care needs.
Not sure which condition you’re dealing with?
Talk to a verified nephrologist or urologist. Bring your questions and recent results — a specialist can help you understand what they mean and what comes next.
Educational information, not a diagnosis. This directory helps you explore kidney conditions. It does not replace a clinician’s assessment or personal medical advice.