The kidneys are vital organs that filter the blood and help remove waste and excess water from the body through the urine. If the kidneys become damaged and are unable to filter and reprocess blood, waste may build up in the body and become toxic, leading to a number of potentially life-threatening complications over time. Certain medical conditions, infections, toxins, inherited diseases and injury may all cause kidney disease.
Diabetes
According to the National Kidney Foundation, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. Diabetes is a condition in which your body is unable to utilize or makes insufficient amounts of insulin--a hormone that helps to control levels of sugar in the bloodstream. High levels of blood sugar can damage the kidneys' nephrons--structures that are responsible for filtering out waste from the blood--and ultimately lead to kidney disease.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is another leading cause of kidney disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. High blood pressure is a condition in which the force and resistance of blood pumping through blood vessels increases to abnormal levels. This increased pressure can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, thereby interfering with the kidneys' ability to filter waste.
Glomerular Diseases
Glomerular diseases are medical conditions that affect the glomeruli, or small blood vessels, within the kidneys. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse, the most common of these diseases include membranous nephropathy--a condition in which filtration of the kidneys is impaired due to a thickening of the glomerular membrane--and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis--a condition in which scar tissue forms in the glomeruli. Glomerulonephritis--a disease that causes inflammation of the glomeruli--is another type of glomerular disease that may develop suddenly following another illness and can come and go, causing progressive loss of kidney function over time.
Another common glomerular disease is an autoimmune condition called lgA nephropathy, in which antibodies to the lgA protein found in the kidneys build up and cause damage to the glomeruli. According to the National Institutes of Health, other autoimmune conditions that may damage the glomeruli include systemic lupus erythematosus--a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the kidneys, joints, skin and other organs--and scleroderma--a connective tissue disease that affects blood vessels and other tissues throughout the body.
Inherited and Congenital Diseases
Certain types of kidney disease can be genetically transmitted. According to the National Kidney Foundation, the most common inherited kidney condition is polycystic kidney disease, characterized by the growth of cysts on the kidneys. The inherited kidney disease called Alport syndrome, or cystinuria--a condition in which stones form in the kidneys, bladder and ureter--and hyperoxaluria--a rare disease in which the overproduction of urinary oxalate can damage the kidneys--are also genetically linked.
Birth defects and congenital medical conditions that develop while a child is in the womb can also cause kidney disease. For example, a rare form of polycystic kidney disease can develop while a baby is still in utero, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse.
Toxins, Injury and Infection
The National Institutes of Health report that kidney disease may be caused by certain pain medications, over-the-counter drugs and exposure to toxic chemicals. Trauma or injury to the kidneys from an accident or sharp blow can also damage the kidneys. Infections due to viruses, bacteria, kidney stones or other medical conditions are also known causes of kidney disease.
