Kidney Diseases
Nephrology
At Tays, we study and treat acute and chronic kidney disease patients. We investigate the causes of kidney diseases and treat and aim to prevent progression of kidney disease and related problems. We are also responsible for the dialysis treatment of end-stage kidney disease patients as well as observation of patients who have received a kidney transplant.
Acute progressing or chronic kidney disease is investigated in specialised health care, but the follow-up care and observation may be transferred either completely or in part to basic health care. Dialysis treatment and monitoring of organ transplant patients is always the responsibility of specialised health care.
Kidney diseases treated at Tays include the following:
- progressing kidney disease, regardless of the cause of the disease
- severe kidney disease when dialysis treatment is imminent
- Monitoring of kidney transplant patients
- vasculitis and other difficult nephrological general diseases
- nephrotic syndrome
- acute kidney disease
Tests and treatment at Tays
The treatment of patients with kidney disease has been allocated to Tays Central Hospital and the outpatient clinic and dialysis unit of the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic at Tays Valkeakoski Hospital. Tays has satellite dialysis units in Hämeenkyrö, Jämsä, Mänttä and Virrat, in addition to Tays Sastamala and Tays Valkeakoski Hospitals.
A patient interview and a clinical examination are always the basis of the diagnosis. The most important laboratory tests include tests measuring kidney function, such as plasma creatinine and cystatin C, urine basic tests, urine protein test, as well as tests related to the cause or source of the disease. The most common kidney imaging method is the ultrasound.
The majority of our operations take place at the outpatient clinic, including dialysis treatment. Only the most difficult acute diseases and worsening periods of chronic diseases are treated in the ward. Kidney biopsy, i.e., taking a sample for testing, is performed in the ward, but other examinations are made at the outpatient clinic.
Treatment periods in the ward usually last only a couple of days. In some particularly difficult cases where special treatments are needed, such as plasma exchange or intravenously administered antibiotics or other medications, treatment in the ward may last up to several weeks.
Special expertise at Tays
Tays nephrology has been at the top in Finland since the 1970s, both clinically and in terms of scientific research. We have invested especially in the expertise of the staff.
Together with the Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tays has organised kidney nurse training since the 1980s, guaranteeing high-level expertise in nursing. Every other year we organise the National Dialysis Day where dialytic experts from all over Finland convene. This strengthens our position as the leading dialysis expert in Finland.
In scientific research, we have focused on the following topics: epidemic nephropathy, hypertension, dialysis, epidemiology of chronic kidney disease, cause of kidney disease (kidney biopsy), vascular disease in kidney patients and its prevention, as well as acute kidney disease.
Kidney centre
We have allocated all kidney disease operations of Tays Central Hospital in the E building: the outpatient clinic, the ward and dialysis. The kidney centre is located in the E building between Coxa and the Building B.