肾脏有几个重要的功能,包括:

  • 过滤血液以清除废物, expelling waste from the body as urine and returning water and chemicals back to the body as necessary.
  • 通过释放几种激素来调节血压.
  • 促红细胞生成素的通过释放促红细胞生成素激素刺激红细胞生成的.

当肾脏停止工作时,这被称为终末期肾病. Toxic waste products accumulate in the body and the patient needs either dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. 这两种方法都不能治愈肾衰竭, but a transplant offers the best prospects if the transplanted kidney functions successfully.