Kidney words, understood in either language.

KDIGO KDIGO

Core care

English

Acute kidney injury

Spanish

Lesión renal aguda

Plain-language meaning: A sudden decline in kidney function that develops over hours or days.
Why it matters: It is different from CKD, although either condition can increase the likelihood of the other and both can occur together.
Abbreviations: AKI

Related terms

Core care

English

Kidney failure

Spanish

Falla de los riñones

Plain-language meaning: Loss of kidney function severe enough that dialysis, transplantation, or comprehensive conservative care may need to be considered.
Why it matters: The treatment path depends on the whole clinical situation and the person's goals; the term alone does not select a treatment.
Also called: Renal failure
Abbreviations: KF

Related terms

KDIGO NIDDK

Core care

English

Nephrology

Spanish

Nefrología

Plain-language meaning: The medical specialty concerned with kidney function, kidney diseases, and their treatment.
Why it matters: A referral to nephrology can support diagnosis, risk assessment, treatment planning, or preparation for advanced kidney care.

Related terms

Core care

English

Nephrologist

Spanish

Nefrólogo o nefróloga

Plain-language meaning: A physician who specializes in kidney health and kidney disease.
Why it matters: A nephrologist works with primary care and other specialists; when referral is useful depends on the clinical situation.

Related terms

Core care

English

Glomerulus

Spanish

Glomérulo

Plain-language meaning: A microscopic bundle of blood vessels that begins the filtering process inside each nephron of the kidney.
Why it matters: Damage to glomeruli can allow blood or protein to enter the urine and can reduce filtration.
Also called: Glomeruli

Related terms

Tests and results

English

Estimated glomerular filtration rate

Spanish

Tasa de filtración glomerular estimada

Plain-language meaning: An estimate of how much blood the kidneys filter each minute, usually calculated from a blood marker and other information.
Why it matters: It is an estimate rather than a direct measurement. Trends, urine findings, temporary illness, and clinical context affect how a result is interpreted.
Abbreviations: eGFR

Related terms

MedlinePlus KDIGO

Tests and results

English

GFR category

Spanish

Categoría de filtración glomerular

Plain-language meaning: One of the G1 to G5 ranges used to describe the level of glomerular filtration in CKD classification.
Why it matters: A G category is considered together with albuminuria and the cause of kidney disease; G1 or G2 alone does not establish CKD.
Abbreviations: G category

Related terms

Tests and results

English

Serum creatinine

Spanish

Creatinina sérica

Plain-language meaning: The concentration in blood of creatinine, a waste product generated largely by normal muscle metabolism.
Why it matters: It is commonly used to calculate eGFR, but muscle mass, diet, medicines, illness, and other factors can affect it.
Also called: Blood creatinine

Related terms

MedlinePlus KDIGO

Tests and results

English

Cystatin C

Spanish

Cistatina C

Plain-language meaning: A protein measured in blood that can be used, alone or with creatinine, to estimate GFR.
Why it matters: A clinician may use it when a creatinine-based estimate may be less reliable or greater precision could affect a decision.

Related terms

Tests and results

English

Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio

Spanish

Cociente albúmina/creatinina en orina

Plain-language meaning: A urine measurement that compares albumin with creatinine to account partly for how concentrated the sample is.
Why it matters: It helps detect and categorize albuminuria. Units differ by country, and an unexpected result is often confirmed with repeat testing.
Abbreviations: uACR · ACR

Related terms

MedlinePlus KDIGO

Tests and results

English

Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio

Spanish

Cociente proteína/creatinina en orina

Plain-language meaning: A urine measurement that compares total protein with creatinine in a sample.
Why it matters: It measures total urine protein and is not interchangeable with urine ACR, which focuses on albumin.
Abbreviations: uPCR · PCR

Related terms

Tests and results

English

Albuminuria

Spanish

Albuminuria

Plain-language meaning: Albumin present in urine above the expected amount.
Why it matters: Persistent albuminuria can be a marker of kidney damage and is categorized separately from eGFR.
Also called: Urine albumin

Related terms

KDIGO MedlinePlus

Tests and results

English

Proteinuria

Spanish

Proteinuria

Plain-language meaning: Protein present in urine above the expected amount; it may include albumin and other proteins.
Why it matters: The test method matters because a dipstick, urine PCR, and urine ACR do not measure exactly the same thing.
Also called: Protein in urine

Related terms

KDIGO NIDDK

Tests and results

English

Urinalysis

Spanish

Análisis de orina

Plain-language meaning: A group of checks on urine that can assess its appearance, concentration, chemistry, and microscopic contents.
Why it matters: Depending on the test, it may identify blood, protein, glucose, cells, or other findings that need clinical context.

Related terms

Tests and results

English

Hematuria

Spanish

Hematuria

Plain-language meaning: Red blood cells in urine, visible to the eye or detected only by testing.
Why it matters: It has many possible causes and does not by itself identify a particular kidney disease.
Also called: Blood in urine

Related terms

Tests and results

English

Kidney biopsy

Spanish

Biopsia renal

Plain-language meaning: A procedure that removes a very small piece of kidney tissue for examination under a microscope and other laboratory studies.
Why it matters: It can help identify the type and extent of certain kidney diseases when the result is expected to guide care.
Also called: Renal biopsy

Related terms

NIDDK NIDDK

Tests and results

English

Kidney ultrasound

Spanish

Ecografía renal

Plain-language meaning: An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the kidneys and nearby urinary structures.
Why it matters: It can show size, shape, blockage, cysts, or other structural findings, but it does not measure every aspect of kidney function.
Also called: Renal ultrasound

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Glomerular disease

Spanish

Enfermedad glomerular

Plain-language meaning: A broad group of conditions that damage the kidney's glomeruli.
Why it matters: Possible findings include proteinuria, hematuria, edema, high blood pressure, or reduced filtration, with patterns that vary by cause.
Also called: Glomerular disorder

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

IgA nephropathy

Spanish

Nefropatía por IgA

Plain-language meaning: A kidney disease in which deposits containing immunoglobulin A build up in the glomeruli and cause inflammation and damage.
Why it matters: Its course varies widely; urine findings, blood pressure, kidney function, and sometimes a biopsy help the care team assess it.
Also called: Berger disease
Abbreviations: IgAN

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Diabetic kidney disease

Spanish

Enfermedad renal diabética

Plain-language meaning: Kidney disease caused by diabetes-related damage over time.
Why it matters: Assessment commonly includes eGFR and urine albumin, while treatment decisions also consider glucose, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, and medicines.
Also called: Diabetic nephropathy

Related terms

KDIGO NIDDK

Conditions and signs

English

Nephrotic syndrome

Spanish

Síndrome nefrótico

Plain-language meaning: A pattern of findings caused by glomerular damage, typically including heavy urine protein loss and low blood albumin, often with edema.
Why it matters: It is a syndrome rather than a single disease, so identifying the underlying cause matters.

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Hypertension

Spanish

Hipertensión

Plain-language meaning: Blood pressure that remains above the range considered appropriate by the treating clinician or applicable guideline.
Why it matters: It can both contribute to kidney damage and result from kidney disease; targets are individualized rather than inferred from this glossary.
Also called: High blood pressure

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Blood pressure

Spanish

Presión arterial

Plain-language meaning: The force of circulating blood against artery walls, reported as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure.
Why it matters: Technique, cuff size, rest, timing, and repeated readings can affect whether a measurement represents usual blood pressure.
Abbreviations: BP

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Edema

Spanish

Edema

Plain-language meaning: Swelling caused by fluid collecting in body tissues.
Why it matters: It can occur for kidney-related and non-kidney reasons. New, rapidly worsening, or breathing-related swelling needs timely clinical assessment.
Also called: Swelling

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Anemia

Spanish

Anemia

Plain-language meaning: A condition in which the blood has fewer healthy red blood cells, or less hemoglobin, than needed to carry oxygen effectively.
Why it matters: CKD can contribute to anemia, but iron deficiency, blood loss, inflammation, and other causes also need consideration.

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

CKD mineral and bone disorder

Spanish

Alteración mineral y ósea asociada a la ERC

Plain-language meaning: A systemic disorder in CKD involving mineral metabolism, bones, and sometimes calcium deposits in blood vessels or other tissues.
Why it matters: Assessment may involve calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, bone health, and the stage and trend of CKD.
Abbreviations: CKD-MBD

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Electrolyte

Spanish

Electrolito

Plain-language meaning: A mineral in body fluids that carries an electric charge and helps regulate functions such as fluid balance, nerves, muscles, and heart rhythm.
Why it matters: Kidney function, medicines, fluid balance, and illness can change electrolyte levels; one result must be interpreted in context.

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Potassium

Spanish

Potasio

Plain-language meaning: An electrolyte important for nerve signals, muscle function, and normal heart rhythm.
Why it matters: Kidney function and some medicines can raise or lower blood potassium. Food advice should follow actual results and an individualized plan.
Abbreviations: K

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Sodium

Spanish

Sodio

Plain-language meaning: An electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance, nerves, and muscles and is a major component of salt.
Why it matters: Dietary sodium can affect thirst, fluid retention, and blood pressure, but sodium and salt are not equal weights.
Abbreviations: Na

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Phosphorus

Spanish

Fósforo

Plain-language meaning: A mineral involved in bones, cells, and energy processes; laboratory tests generally measure phosphate in blood.
Why it matters: In advanced CKD, phosphorus balance can change, but restriction or medication should be based on laboratory trends and clinical guidance.
Also called: Phosphate

Related terms

Conditions and signs

English

Bicarbonate

Spanish

Bicarbonato

Plain-language meaning: A blood component that helps maintain the body's acid-base balance and is commonly estimated by the total carbon dioxide result on a chemistry panel.
Why it matters: Lower levels can occur when kidneys do not remove acid adequately, but the result can have other causes and needs clinical interpretation.
Also called: Serum total CO2
Abbreviations: HCO3− · CO2

Related terms

Treatment

English

Dialysis

Spanish

Diálisis

Plain-language meaning: A treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer do enough of that work.
Why it matters: Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis work differently. The appropriate modality and timing require shared clinical planning.

Related terms

Treatment

English

Hemodialysis

Spanish

Hemodiálisis

Plain-language meaning: A form of dialysis in which blood passes through a filter outside the body and is then returned.
Why it matters: It may be delivered in a center or, for some people, at home; schedules and vascular access are planned individually.
Abbreviations: HD

Related terms

Treatment

English

Peritoneal dialysis

Spanish

Diálisis peritoneal

Plain-language meaning: A form of dialysis that uses the lining of the abdomen and dialysis fluid to remove wastes and extra fluid.
Why it matters: It is generally performed at home using manual exchanges or a machine, after training and placement of a catheter.
Abbreviations: PD

Related terms

Treatment

English

Kidney transplant

Spanish

Trasplante de riñón

Plain-language meaning: Surgery to place a functioning kidney from a donor into a person with kidney failure.
Why it matters: Evaluation considers overall health and other factors; after transplantation, lifelong follow-up and anti-rejection medicines are usually required.
Also called: Renal transplant

Related terms