Last Updated on July 31, 2023 by Neelam Singh
Quick Take
A social media post claims that doctors are deliberately hiding the fact that kidneys can regenerate so that they can make the patient undergo dialysis or transplantation. We fact-checked and found the claim to be Mostly False.
The Claim
An Instagram post shares a video where a man is telling to a patient who has undergone kidney transplantation that doctors are deliberately hiding the fact that kidneys can regenerate so that they can make the patient undergo dialysis or transplantation. The video gained more than 2 lakh likes the last time we checked.
Fact Check
What is a regenerative tissue or organ?
A regenerative organ or tissue is a remarkable biological structure present in the body. It is capable of restoring and repairing itself following injury, damage, or normal wear and tear. In contrast to organs or tissues lacking regenerative abilities, regenerative organs can undergo regrowth and regain their original form and function. This remarkable regenerative potential arises from the presence of specialised cells, such as stem cells, which possess the unique ability to differentiate and replace damaged or lost cells. Notable examples of regenerative organs include the liver, known for its ability to regenerate lost tissue, and the skin, which can renew itself to facilitate wound healing.
Can kidneys regenerate?
To a limited extent. The kidneys have the ability to regenerate to a certain extent. However, the extent of regeneration is limited, and the kidneys cannot fully repair themselves after severe damage.
In a healthy kidney, the cells are constantly being replaced by new cells to conserve the structural and functional integrity of the organ. This process is called cell turnover. However, the rate of cell turnover in the kidneys is relatively slow. This means that it takes a long time for the kidneys to regenerate after damage.
Kidney regeneration can occur from proliferation of surviving mature cells, stem cells present in the kidney or through stem cells of extrarenal origin.
The extent of kidney regeneration depends on the severity of the damage. In cases of mild damage, the kidneys can usually repair themselves completely. However, in cases of more severe damage, the kidneys may not be able to fully regenerate. In these cases, the person may need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Nephrologist Dr Varun Kumar Bandi states, “The kidneys have a good mechanism for repair/recovery after injury, but they do not have the capacity to regenerate. In certain diseases of the kidney such as Acute Kidney Injury, the renal function can partially or completely recover. However, when the kidney gets permanently damaged like Chronic Kidney Disease, the renal dysfunction is permanent and the kidneys cannot regenerate.”
Are kidney transplantation and dialysis unnecessary?
Kidney transplantation and dialysis are not unnecessary, as they are the only treatments available for people with severe kidney damage. In cases where the kidneys are unable to regenerate, transplantation or dialysis is necessary to provide the body with the functions that the kidneys normally perform.
Here’s why kidney transplantation and dialysis are vital:
- Kidney Transplantation: When a person’s kidneys fail to function adequately (end-stage renal disease or ESRD), kidney transplantation becomes a treatment option. During a kidney transplant, a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is surgically implanted into the recipient’s body. A successful kidney transplant can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life and increase their life expectancy.
- Dialysis: It is a life-support treatment that performs some of the essential functions of the kidneys when they are no longer capable of doing so. There are two primary types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis involves using a machine to filter the blood outside the body, while peritoneal dialysis uses the peritoneal membrane in the abdomen to filter waste and excess fluids. Dialysis helps to remove waste, salt, and extra water from the body, maintains proper electrolyte balance, and manages blood pressure.
Dr. Bandi further comments, “When kidney failure is permanent and severe, the patient starts developing symptoms of inadequate clearance of toxic molecules, such as breathlessness, vomiting, reduced appetite, etc. These symptoms are called uremic symptoms, and they are an absolute indication to start the patient on renal replacement therapy (Dialysis or kidney transplantation). These symptoms usually happen in stage V Chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration – eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73m2), and most patients will need renal replacement by the time their eGFR reaches 5 ml/min/1.73m2. At this stage, renal replacement is life-saving, and delaying or denying it could be very dangerous.”
Do doctors deliberately hide that kidneys can regenerate to do transplantation and dialysis?
There is no evidence that doctors deliberately hide the fact that kidneys can regenerate. In fact, many doctors are aware of the limited ability of the kidneys to regenerate, and they often discuss this with their patients. The extent of kidney regeneration is limited. In severe damage, the kidneys may not be able to regenerate enough to restore kidney function fully. Additionally, the process of kidney regeneration can take a long time and the patient might not have that much time to wait for it.
There are some types of kidney damage that cannot be repaired by regeneration. For example, if the kidneys are scarred, the scar tissue cannot be regenerated.
Dr. Bandi states, “When the patient reaches End Stage Renal Disease, renal replacement therapy becomes essential. The options for renal replacement include hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation. As of now, there is no treatment available that can reverse chronic kidney disease.”
In conclusion, while the kidneys do have the ability to regenerate to a certain extent, this ability is limited. In cases of severe kidney damage, transplantation or dialysis may still be necessary so that the patient can stay alive.
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