Kidney and dialysis related websites

A wealth of resources are available to help you on your quest to learn more about chronic kidney disease and dialysis. Below are several categories with links to other exceptional organizations that help those with kidney disease.

Organizations and Programs
Education
Advice & Inspiration
Recipes & Nutrition
Specific Kidney Diseases
Resources

Note: All links below open in a new browser window.

Organizations and Programs

Dialysis Patient Citizens
This nationwide, nonprofit patient organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all dialysis patients.
KEYConnections
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects 1 in 9 American adults. Risk factors include diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Learn more about how to prevent kidney disease.
The Kidney TRUST
The Kidney TRUST is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease.
National Kidney Foundation (NKF)
Offers education, information, and chapters in most states that you can join. The NKF has also developed clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of kidney disease and kidney failure.
National Kidney Foundation of Southern California
Learn about kidney disease. Ways to prevent and treat disease, patient programs, links, support groups, organ donation faq’s, and how to help.
Dialysisfinder.com- Dialysis Center search
Find a dialysis center anywhere in the USA. Search by city, state, or zip code. Facility contact information is also available. Addition resouces available on links page.
DaVita.com- Locate a Dialysis Center search tool.
Over 4000 Facilities in database. Fill out a Facility Availability Form online or call the 800# and a Representative will facilitate your placement.
Life Options Rehabilitation Program
Dedicated to helping people live long and live well with kidney disease. Offers encouragement and free educational materials, with a special emphasis on staying active through exercise and employment.
American Kidney Fund
Provides direct financial assistance for kidney patients, and educational programs, clinical research and community service projects.
American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP)
A patient organization providing information, education, and advocacy. Check to see if there's a local chapter near you.
Renal Support Network (RSN)
A nonprofit, patient-focused, patient-run organization that provides non-medical services to those affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Education

The Nephron Information Center
Allows patient, professionals and the public access to the vast kidney disease resources on the Web. Links. Animated GIFS, preESRD education, Fadem's Kidney Guide
Kidney School
Interactive Patient Education Modules on 16 topics from Life Options.
Understanding Anemia
An introduction to the anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
Staying Healthy With Bad Kidneys
Online seminars by doctors, designed for people with CKD. Requires free registration. Provides a worthwhile treasure trove of insight into preserving kidney function, eating right, bone health, transplant decisions, anemia, blood pressure and dialysis choices.
How Blood Pressure Medications Work
Detailed patient education on the physiology of blood pressure and how to control it.
How Your Kidneys Work
A thorough but friendly education on the many functions of the kidneys.
Transplant Medications
Info from TransWeb about some of the immunosuppressant medications used after organ transplants.
Clinical Practice Guidelines
From NKF's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI). Guidelines on CKD, Hemodialysis, PD, Nutrition, Anemia Management, and Vascular Access, with more under development.
HDCN FreeZone
Presentations on hypertension, dialysis, and clinical nephrology. This organization makes some of its symposium presentations available online with free registration.
Dialysis-Related Amyloidosis (DRA)
Info from NIDDK: This is a disease of the bones and joints that can arise as a complication of long-term dialysis.
The Kidney
Detailed medical description of the many functions of the kidneys. Includes a description of the artificial kidney used in hemodialysis. A University of Minnesota presentation, with lots of technical information about hemodialysis.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Offers good descriptions of what is involved with PD, and tips to make life with PD easier.
Kidney End-of-Life Coalition
Dedicated to end-of-life care for kidney patients.

Advice & Inspiration from People with Kidney Disease

One Man's Story
Photojournalist John Martin chronicles his journey through kidney failure, dialysis and transplant in first person narration and photos. A picture is worth a thousand words!
Dialysis Support
A very active and helpful patient-to-patient email support group.
Gil's Kidney Failure Page
Gil shares his story and advice, from long experience with kidney failure.
Peritoneal Dialysis Information Exchange
This patient-to-patient email support group provides a forum for asking questions about PD or offering information and encouragement to others.

Recipes & Nutrition

Eat Right to Feel Right on Hemodialysis
Dietary guidelines from the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
Living Well on Dialysis
A complete online cookbook from NKF.
Culinary Kidney Cooks
Recipe of the week and helpful hints of the week, prepared with love and knowledge.
Cookbooks
From NKF, with pricing, availability and comments.
The DASH Diet
Download or order the 20 page National Institutes of Health document for reducing blood pressure through diet.
USDA Nutrient Database
Search the government's comprehensive database for complete nutrient information on the foods you eat.
Nutrition Assessment Tool (NAT)
Provided as a public service by the University of Illinois , the NAT is a simplified way to find nutrient information for most kinds of food.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator
From the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
PD Today
Presents medical news and commentary related to peritoneal dialysis. Check out the archives, too.

Specific Kidney Diseases

IgA Nephropathy Support
Complete IgA nephropathy information from the patient's perspective, with medical advisory board overseer, peer support discussion groups.
Lupus
Detailed information from eLupus on treatment of kidney disease due to lupus.
The PKD Foundation
Provides PKD information and encourages PKD research.
Interstitial Nephritis and Cystic Kidney Diseases
Medical descriptions of interstitial kidney disease and PKD, by a professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

Resources

Dialysisfinder™
A free service to help you locate dialysis centers closest to you, or centers in places where you wish to travel.
Employment
A Guide to Work, Insurance, and Finance for People on Dialysis: Comprehensive information and advice for dealing with work and money issues. Download the whole booklet or look at individual chapters online.
Kidney Disease Information
Resources and fact sheets from NIDDK.
Kidney & Urology Foundation of America
KUF focuses on kidney and urology research, nurturing the development of new therapies.
iKidney
A host of information and resources for the worldwide kidney community.
Transplant Living
Transplant resources from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the organization that maintains the U.S. organ transplant waiting list.
Dialysis Facility
Compare Medicare's site for information on selected characteristics and quality statistics of individual dialysis centers.
Estimated Creatinine Clearance
Online calculator to estimate creatinine clearance from age, gender, weight, and blood creatinine level (uses the Cockcroft Gault equation).
Directory of Resources
Renal Web's extensive listing of links and information of interest to people living with kidney failure.
Home Dialysis Central
Sophiahemmet AB
Hemodialysis treatment in Stockholm, Sweden.
UKidney
UKidney is a provider of educational tools for the study and practice of nephrology, hypertension management, and kidney transplantation. This site features essential educational contributions from major opinion leaders in nephrology
Alport Syndrome This site is designed for patients and families affected by Alport Syndrome, a genetic kidney disease.