Templeton Specialty Center, Nephrology Care, Templeton, CA

This clinic treats the following conditions, among others.

Amyloidosis: Amyloidosis refers to a group of conditions in which proteins (amyloids) accumulate in the body's organs and tissues in abnormal amounts, disrupting normal functions. Amyloidosis may be caused by a bone marrow cell disorder or an inherited protein variation. Or it may be associated with other conditions, including chronic infections or chronic inflammatory diseases. Organs most often affected by amyloidosis include the heart, liver, kidney, skin, and certain nerves. But any organ system may be involved. Symptoms of amyloidosis depend upon the organ system affected and may not help determine what condition is causing the protein accumulation. Amyloidosis can be disabling and even life-threatening. Treatment of amyloidosis depends upon the condition that is causing the protein accumulation. Treatment options may include medicine or stem cell transplant.

Chronic kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease happens when your kidneys no longer filter your blood the way they should, so wastes build up in your blood. This has probably been going on for years, and it may keep getting worse over time. If your disease gets worse, you could have kidney failure. Diabetes and high blood pressure cause most chronic kidney disease. Controlling those diseases can help slow or stop the damage to your kidneys.

Electrolyte imbalance: Electrolytes are minerals in your blood. They include sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. When they are not at the right levels, you can feel very ill. You may not know what is causing it, but you know something is wrong. You may feel weak or numb, have muscle spasms, or twitch. Your heart may beat fast. Symptoms are different with each mineral. Too much is as bad as too little. Minerals help keep your body working as it should. Vomiting, diarrhea, and fever can cause you to lose minerals. A problem with your kidneys can tip a mineral out of balance. So can taking certain medicines.

Glomerulonephritis: Glomerulonephritis is a kidney disorder that causes inflammation in the small blood vessels of the kidney (renal capillaries). It interferes with the kidney's ability to remove waste products from the blood. Glomerulonephritis can be caused by an infection, such as strep throat, or may be a complication of an autoimmune disease, such as lupus or an inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis). Symptoms may include blood and protein in the urine and swelling (edema). Treatment of glomerulonephritis includes medicines, such as antibiotics and corticosteroids. Untreated glomerulonephritis can cause severe chronic kidney disease.

Kidney infection (pyelonephritis): A kidney infection occurs when bacteria travel from the bladder up the ureters and into the kidneys. Sometimes kidney infections may occur when bacteria in the blood enter the kidneys. Symptoms of kidney infection may include: Painful urination and other symptoms of a bladder infection. Pain in the flank, which is felt just below the rib cage and above the waist on one or both sides of the back. Fever. Nausea and vomiting. Oral antibiotics usually can treat kidney infections. But a brief hospital stay and a short course of intravenous (I.V.) antibiotics are sometimes required. If not treated with antibiotics, the infection may damage the kidneys. The infection may also spread to the bloodstream and become life-threatening, especially in young children and the elderly.

Kidney stones: Kidney stones are small stones made of minerals in the urine that stick together. They can cause severe pain as they travel through the ureters (tubes that connect the kidneys and the bladder) to exit the body when you urinate. Your doctor may give you medicine to ease the pain until you pass the stone. If the stone is too large or gets stuck, other treatment is needed.

Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus): Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks your body's healthy tissues. Lupus may cause problems with your skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, nerves, or blood cells. When you have lupus symptoms, you are having flares or relapses. When your symptoms get better, you are in remission. Lupus can't be cured, but home treatment and medicine can help control the symptoms.

Nephrotic syndrome: Nephrotic syndrome is a warning sign that something is damaging your kidneys. It causes high levels of protein in the urine and low levels of protein in the blood. Many things can cause nephrotic syndrome, but the most common are kidney diseases and diabetes. Nephrotic syndrome will usually get better if the cause is treated. But in some cases, it may lead to long-term kidney problems and kidney failure.

Proteinuria: Proteinuria means that you have too much protein in your urine. This is usually caused by a kidney problem. Your body's blood passes through your kidneys. Normally, the kidneys remove waste from the blood. The waste then leaves the body in the urine. But they don't let protein leave the body. If your kidneys are not working well, they let too much protein get in your urine. A high level of protein in your urine is a sign that something is harming your kidneys. It may be puzzling to find out that you have a problem with your kidneys, because you probably don't feel different. Your doctor may do more tests to find out what is causing the protein to get into your urine. Possible causes include an infection or a medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease. You may need regular urine tests in the future. You may be able to reduce the protein in your urine by getting exercise, eating a healthy diet, and taking medicine.

Renal Artery Stenosis: Renal artery stenosis is the narrowing of one or both of the renal arteries. These vessels supply blood to your kidneys. It is most often caused by a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque in either or both renal arteries. It doesn't cause symptoms. But if it gets worse, it may cause high blood pressure. Or it may affect how well your kidneys work. Then you may have symptoms of kidney disease, such as shortness of breath or fluid buildup that causes swelling in your legs and feet. Treatment may include taking medicine, following a heart-healthy lifestyle, and not smoking. Certain people may have an angioplasty or surgery to improve blood flow to the kidneys.

Rhabdomyolysis: Rhabdomyolysis is a process in which dying muscle cells cause the toxic buildup of certain substances in the blood. Some of these substances are creatine, myoglobin, aldolase, potassium, and lactate dehydrogenase. Left untreated, rhabdomyolysis can cause life-threatening damage to body organs, including kidney failure. Rhabdomyolysis can be caused by a variety of problems, including a severe muscle injury, certain medicines, toxins, or infections.

Urinary tract infection: A urinary tract infection is a general term for an infection anywhere between the kidneys and the urethra (where urine comes out). Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections. They often cause pain or burning when you urinate. They're caused by bacteria and can be cured with antibiotics.

Vasculitis: Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels. This inflammation can damage and narrow the blood vessels, causing a rash, a change in sensation, fatigue, or other symptoms. Vasculitis has many possible causes, including allergic reactions and certain diseases, such as lupus. Bleeding from the blood vessel may cause bruises or blood spots under the skin. Vasculitis can decrease blood supply to tissues or organs, causing blood clots, pain, tissue damage, and organ malfunction. Treatment depends on the cause of the vasculitis. Some cases may be self-correcting. Treatment may include anti-inflammatory medicine.

This clinic performs the following procedures, among others.

Antihypertensive medicines: Antihypertensives are medicines that help keep blood pressure within normal limits. Examples of antihypertensive medicines are diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), sodium-glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and vasodilators.

Diuretic: A diuretic is a substance that removes water from the body by causing the kidneys to pass water and salt (sodium) through the urine. Caffeine and alcohol are common diuretics. Diuretic medicines include furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), and spironolactone (Aldactone). These medicines may be used to help treat conditions such as heart failure, hypertension, or liver or kidney disease.

Erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESA medicines) for anemia: Erythropoietin stimulating agents (also called ESA medicines) are used to treat anemia caused by severe kidney disease or chemotherapy for cancer treatment. They may also be used before surgery in some situations. The kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin. It helps the body make red blood cells. If your kidneys don't make enough of the hormone, your body doesn't make enough red blood cells. Your red blood cell counts get low. This is called anemia. Having anemia can make you feel weak and tired. ESAs replace the hormone. ESA is usually given as a shot under the skin or into a vein (I.V.).

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): Glomerular filtration is the process by which the kidneys filter the blood, removing excess wastes and fluids. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a calculation that determines how well the blood is filtered by the kidneys. This is one way to measure kidney function. The eGFR is also used to find the stage of chronic kidney disease. The eGFR is often calculated using a formula that compares a person's size, age, and sex to serum creatinine levels. An eGFR under 60 mL/min/1.73 m² may mean kidney disease—the lower the eGFR number, the worse the kidney function. This number is an estimate. It may not be a good measure of kidney health in some people, such as the very young or very old, amputees, or people who have obesity.

Urinalysis: A urinalysis tests the urine for color, clarity (clear or cloudy), odor, concentration, and pH (acidity or alkalinity). It also checks for abnormal levels of protein, sugar, and blood cells or other substances that, if found in the urine, may mean an illness or disease somewhere in the body.

Pacific Central Coast Health Centers contracts with most health insurance plans, including Medi-Cal, and provides health care services that fit your health plan benefits. If you have questions about the health insurance plans we accept, contact the office where you would like to be seen and our staff would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

• Aetna
• Blue Cross
  
• Blue Shield
• CenCal
• Cigna
• Coventry – First Health
• Health Net
  
• Healthsmart – Interplan
• MCS
  
• Medi-Cal
• Medicare
• Multiplan – Beech Street
• Networks by Design
• Physicians Choice Medical Group
• United Healthcare
• United Tricare
• Western Growers