GLOSSARY

Dialysis is a treatment that replaces the kidney’s blood-cleaning functions in severe kidney failure: removing waste products and excess water and regulating electrolytes and acid–base balance. Dialysis does not replace the kidney’s hormonal functions (such as making erythropoietin and active vitamin D).

Principles

Dialysis is based on diffusion (movement of substances from high to low concentration across a semipermeable membrane) and ultrafiltration (removal of water by pressure).

Types