A healthy kidney

helps to manage your HIV

scroll
scroll
Home Your Body

Kidney

HIV and the Kidney

You know your HIV viral load but do you know how to look after your kidneys?

No matter what stage in the HIV journey you are, you can find information here about how to monitor and maintain healthy kidneys.

Read below to find out more about:

  • The role of the kidneys
  • What can impact kidney health and how to keep yours as healthy as possible
  • Real-life stories about living with HIV, including why it’s important to look after your kidneys
  • Risk factors and what to do if you already live with kidney disease

To help you plan for your next appointment and helpful questions to ask, go to What To Ask for tips and downloadable questions.

What do I need to know? What is the kidney's function? Can HIV cause kidney disease?
What do I need to know?

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

30% of people living with HIV show signs that their kidneys are not working normally – this is higher than the general population, but this is not just as a result of the virus. Age, lifestyle, family history, medications and having other infections or chronic diseases may all affect kidney health.

WHY IS THIS?

  • The prevalence of some traditional risk factors for kidney disease, especially smoking and heavy alcohol and recreational drug use, is higher among people living with HIV
  • High blood pressure and diabetes, which are both common in people with HIV, are also major risk factors for kidney problems
  • Some HIV and non-HIV medications can weaken healthy kidneys. Be sure to let your healthcare team know about all the medications you are taking, including over the counter medications, supplements and recreational drugs, in addition to your HIV medication
  • If you are living with hepatitis C this may affect your risk of developing kidney problems
  • Poorly controlled HIV can spread and multiply in kidney cells, causing kidney damage known as HIV-Associated Nephropathy or HIVAN (nephropathy is a medical word used to describe damage to the kidneys)

The good news is that people with HIV will have their kidneys regularly monitored, so even the earliest stages of kidney disease can be detected.

Talk to your healthcare team about:

  • Better lifestyle choices. There are many changes you can make to reduce the chances of developing kidney disease
  • How well your HIV is managed. An undetectable HIV viral load will help reduce your risk of kidney complications
  • Your blood pressure and blood sugar level results. You can read our heart and diabetes pages to learn more about prevention and management
  • Whether your HIV medication is affecting how well your kidneys are working

HIV, TAKING CONTROL AND WHY KIDNEY HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT

What is the kidney's function?

What Is The Kidney's Function?

The kidneys play a major role in health and wellbeing; they clear out waste from the body, maintain the fluid balance, regulate blood pressure and balance the levels of salt/minerals in the blood. If the kidneys stop working as well as they should they won’t carry out these roles correctly, which over time can cause serious health issues.

Regardless of HIV status, most bodily functions deteriorate gradually over a lifetime and the kidneys are no exception.

1 DIAGNOSIS, 5 KIDNEY STONES AND ENDLESS INNER STRENGTH

Can HIV cause kidney disease?

CAN HIV CAUSE KIDNEY DISEASE?

Kidney disease is more common in people living with HIV, but this is not just as a result of the virus. Age, lifestyle, family history, medications and having other infections or chronic diseases all affect kidney health.

The good news is that an undetectable HIV viral load will help reduce the risk of kidney disease and your healthcare team will regularly monitor how well your kidneys are working. Simple lifestyle changes can also help ensure your kidneys are well looked after as you get older.

AM I AT RISK?

You may be at an increased risk if:

  • You have any family members with kidney problems
  • You are of Black ethnicity
  • You have a poor diet and/or not physically active
  • You drink a lot of alcohol and/or smoke
  • You use recreational drugs
  • You have high blood pressure and/or diabetes
  • Your HIV viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) is high
  • You are living with hepatitis C infection
  • You are taking a lot of medications

Talk to your healthcare team about what lifestyle choices you can make to look after your kidneys and for your routine test results.

WHAT IF I AM ALREADY LIVING WITH KIDNEY DISEASE?

Kidney disease in those living with HIV can be well-managed and you may be referred to see a kidney specialist for additional advice. Treatment options can vary considerably, depending on the cause (or causes) of a person’s kidney disease and any other health issues.

Some treatment possibilities include:

  • Reviewing lifestyle choices: changing your diet, doing more exercise and cutting down on alcohol, smoking and recreational drug use can help reduce risk of kidney disease and assist in lowering blood pressure
  • Reviewing HIV medications: some HIV medications are broken down (eliminated) by the kidneys and may lead to further kidney problems
  • Reviewing other medications you are taking as these might affect how your kidneys are working

Talk to your healthcare team about what changes you can make and if you have any concerns about how your medicines might be affecting the health of your kidneys.

Talk to your healthcare team about what changes you can make and if you have any concerns about how your medicines might be affecting the health of your kidneys.

Quick Quiz

Recreational drugs can weaken healthy kidneys

Correct

Some recreational drugs are processed in the kidneys, which can impact how well they work. Some prescription medicines, including HIV medicines, and over the counter medicines can also have the same impact.

Incorrect

Some recreational drugs are processed in the kidneys, which can impact how well they work. Some prescription medicines, including HIV medicines, and over the counter medicines can also have the same impact.

Date of preparation: December 2019
Job code: 001/IHQ/17-08//1364aa(1) 

10
Tips

TO LOOK AFTER YOUR HEALTH

  1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet
  2. Stay hydrated
  3. Be physically active
    As this can reduce risk of diabetes and maintain healthy blood pressure
  4. Don’t smoke
    Or look for ways to help you cut back
  5. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol
    Or ask for help to cut down
  1. Ask your healthcare team about your kidney function test results
  2. Ask your healthcare team how your HIV medication affects your kidneys
  3. Test for hepatitis C
    If tested positive, discuss treatment options with your healthcare team
  4. Let your healthcare team know if you use steroids or street/recreational drugs
    And ask for help to cut down or stop
  5. Download apps that can help you monitor your health
    Such as recording your food habits or offer support to stop drinking
Next

To find out what else you can do to take care of Your Body and live well with HIV, click on the boxes below:

Bone

Bone health, osteoporosis and HIV

Cancer

Cancer risks and prevention

Diabetes

Diabetes risks and prevention

Heart

Look after your heart health with HIV

Kidney

Information on HIV and kidney disease

Liver

Look after your liver health with HIV

Lungs

How to maintain healthy lungs

Mental Health

Maintain a healthy mind and sleep

Gilead is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites.

If you wish to continue, click ‘Continue’, or otherwise click ‘Stay on page’

Continue Stay on Page