Organ systems such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys depend on and support each other's functions, so when COVID-19 causes damage to one organ, others may be at risk. The basic functions of the kidneys have an impact on the heart, lungs and other systems. Therefore, kidney damage occurring in COVID-19 patients can be considered a warning sign of a serious, even fatal course of the disease.
The disease caused by the coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 global pandemic is known to damage the lungs. It is seen that the disease, which has many unknowns, damages many organs other than the lung and affects their functions. As more people become sick, more information and new understandings about the coronavirus emerge. It is now known that coronavirus can cause serious and permanent damage to other organs, including the heart and kidneys.
In some patients who have had or are experiencing severe COVID-19, symptoms of kidney damage may be detected even in those who did not have an underlying kidney problem before the disease. Initial reports state that 30% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 developed moderate or severe kidney damage. Among the symptoms of kidney problems in COVID-19 patients, the most common symptoms are high levels of protein in the urine and bleeding in the urine. In addition to all these, increased blood urea and creatinine levels, hypertension and renal failure symptoms may occur, and even permanent or temporary partial renal failure may develop, requiring dialysis. A general kidney pain is common in those with COVID-19, but this is a subjective finding and should be seen as a sign and symptom to check kidney function.
Kidney damage, in some cases dialysis It may be severe enough to require treatment, which we call acute renal failure. It has been found that the risk of developing acute renal failure in patients with COVID-19 is twice as high as in normal people. Most patients with severe COVID-19 have chronic conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Kidney disease due to COVID-19 in patients with high blood pressure and diabetes The risk of disease increases. Of course, kidney damage can also be seen in patients who do not have any chronic disease or who did not have kidney problems before being infected with the virus.
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COVID -Risk groups for disease 19
If a person is in the risk group, depending on his/her existing chronic disease, the person's COVID-19 disease is more severe compared to people who do not have any chronic disease. It means there is a risk of transmission. It is of great importance for risk group patients to take additional precautions to protect themselves from contamination during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the person's existing chronic disease is not considered a risk factor for contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Basically, the risk of severe COVID-19 is high. Diseases and conditions that occur are:
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Advanced age,
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Chronic lung disease (COPD etc)
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Hypertension,
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Cardiovascular diseases
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Diabetes.
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Acute and chronic renal failure
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Kidney patients who need dialysis: Fighting infections for these patients is more important than people without any chronic disease. It may be more difficult. Since patients receiving dialysis treatment have to leave home frequently, use public transportation and go to the dialysis center, their chances of contracting the COVID-19 virus increase. given, the likelihood of contracting the COVID-19 virus and having a severe illness increases
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Immune system diseases such as chronic pyelonephritis,
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Vasculitis and scleroderma those with autoimmune diseases
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Patients receiving cancer treatment
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How does COVID-19 damage the kidneys?
Although the effect of COVID-19 on the kidneys is not yet clear, The following possibilities are considered at the forefront.
1- Coronavirus kidney cells It can directly target:The virus can infect kidney cells. Coronavirus to kidney cells; It has receptors that allow it to bind, invade and make copies of itself, potentially damaging tissues. Similar receptors to which the coronavirus binds are also found in lung and heart cells.
2- Lack of oxygen can cause kidney damage: Kidney problems in coronavirus patients are common. It can be caused by abnormally low oxygen levels in the blood as a result of pneumonia.
3- Cytokine storms can destroy kidney tissue: As a reaction of the body's immune system to infection. The resulting cytokines are held responsible for the destruction of kidney tissue. Cytokines are small proteins that help cells communicate when the immune system is fighting an infection. The immune system's response to COVID-19 may be excessive in some patients, which is called a cytokine storm. While the cytokine storms produced by the immune system fight COVID-19, they also damage the body's own normal tissue by causing an inflammatory reaction. In this, all organs, including the kidneys (lung, heart, kidneys, etc.), are affected and destroyed.
4- COVID-19 can cause blood clots that can block the small blood vessels of the kidneys: Kidneys are like filters that filter out toxins, excess water, and waste products from the body. COVID-19 can cause small clots to form in the bloodstream, which can block the smallest blood vessels in the kidney and impair its function.
How Should Patients With Kidney Problems Be Approached?
The course of COVID-19 disease in patients with kidney problems varies from patient to patient. Just because a patient has kidney disease or has kidney damage during the disease period does not necessarily mean that the disease will be severe. Therefore, the treatment of kidney patients with COVID-19 varies depending on the patient's symptoms. may sweat. Here, it is important to keep patients in the risk group under constant surveillance and to monitor their blood and urine values.
To ensure that the kidney function of patients with COVID-19-related kidney damage returns to normal, doctors must They should be under close monitoring. Permanent kidney damage may require dialysis or other treatments even after recovery from COVID-19.
Mostly, the basics of preventing COVID-19: vaccination, mask, physical distance and hand It is worth emphasizing the importance of adhering to washing instructions. It is very important, especially for people with underlying chronic diseases, to avoid COVID-19 infection as much as possible and to get their vaccinations.
Drugs routinely started for COVID-19 treatment in Turkey In patients whose reserves are not good, the dose should be adjusted by the healthcare team. Again, the doses of the drugs they are currently using should be adjusted or whether the drugs should be discontinued during the coronavirus infection; It depends on the course of the disease and whether the medical team deems it necessary. It is recommended that patients should never stop taking their medications or adjust the dose on their own.
If patients with kidney failure receiving dialysis treatment contract the COVID-19 virus, they should inform the dialysis center and report that they are COVID-19 positive. They must continue their dialysis treatment throughout the duration. Kidney treatments should not be interrupted under any circumstances during the disease process.
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