Vesepótló

Vesepótló is a Hungarian term for renal replacement therapy, i.e., medical interventions that substitute kidney function when the kidneys are unable to maintain homeostasis. The aim is to perform essential kidney roles such as filtering waste products from the blood, regulating fluid balance, maintaining electrolyte and acid-base balance, and supporting hormonal functions involved in red blood cell production and bone metabolism.

The main modalities are dialysis and kidney transplantation. Dialysis uses a machine or peritoneal membrane to remove waste and excess fluid. Hemodialysis filters blood through an artificial kidney called a dialyzer, typically performed in a clinic several times per week. Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of the abdominal cavity as the filtration surface and is usually done at home. Kidney transplantation replaces the failed organ with a healthy donor kidney; recipients typically require lifelong immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection.

Emerging developments include wearable or implantable artificial kidneys and bioartificial kidneys that combine filtration with living renal cells; these are experimental and not yet broadly available.

Indications and considerations: vesepótló therapies are used in end-stage kidney disease and, in some cases, acute kidney injury requiring ongoing renal support. Dialysis can sustain life and relieve symptoms but does not fully restore normal kidney function; transplantation can improve survival and quality of life but depends on donor availability and carries risks such as rejection and infection.

Etymology: the term vesepótló derives from vese (kidney) and pótló (substitute).