nierzorg

Nierzorg is the medical field focused on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing management of kidney diseases and conditions affecting kidney function. It covers a broad range of activities from primary care and risk-factor modification to specialized nephrology services, dialysis, and transplantation. In Dutch contexts, the term literally means “kidney care.”

Scope and approach include preventive measures such as blood pressure control, diabetes management, healthy lifestyle adoption, smoking cessation, and regular screening for at-risk populations. Kidney function is commonly assessed using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria, with imaging and laboratory tests supporting diagnosis and monitoring.

Common diseases and conditions managed in nierzorg include chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI), as well as glomerular diseases, polycystic kidney disease, and nephrotic syndrome. Treatment aims to slow disease progression, manage symptoms, and prevent complications such as anemia, mineral-bone disorders, electrolyte disturbances, and fluid overload.

Treatments and care settings involve dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) and kidney transplantation for those with significant loss of function. Medications commonly used include renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, phosphate binders, and therapies addressing anemia and bone-mineral disorders. Care is delivered across primary care, nephrology clinics, hospital services, dialysis centers, and transplant programs, often through multidisciplinary teams.

Outcomes and challenges in nierzorg include ensuring timely access to nephrology care, addressing organ scarcity for transplantation, and supporting patient quality of life. Research directions cover early detection, home-based dialysis, telemedicine, patient education, and optimization of long-term outcomes.