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ANZDATAANZETDANZLKD

ANZDATA

Key terms related to kidney disease, dialysis, transplantation, and registry data, designed to help explain common concepts in kidney health care.

A
  • Acute kidney injury (AKI): A sudden and often short-term drop in kidney function, usually caused by illness, infection, or certain medications. This leads to a build-up of waste products in the blood and may require urgent treatment.
  • Anaemia: A condition where the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to organs and tissues. This can lead to tiredness, weakness, and shortness of breath.
B
  • Bacteriuria: The presence of bacteria in the urine. It may be harmless or a sign of a urinary tract infection.
  • Biopsy: A medical procedure where a small piece of tissue is taken from the body to check for disease or damage under a microscope.
  • Blood typing: A test that identifies a person’s blood group to check if a donor and recipient are a suitable match for transfusion or transplant.
C
  • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): A long-term condition where the kidneys slowly lose their ability to filter waste, excess fluid, and toxins from the blood. It is diagnosed when reduced kidney function or signs of kidney damage last for three months or more. In advanced stages, CKD can progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), when dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to replace lost kidney function.
  • Clinical Trial: A research study where people volunteer to test new treatments, medications, or procedures to check their safety and efficacy.
  • Comorbidity: A term that describes when a person has more than one health condition at the same time, for example, kidney disease and diabetes.
  • Compatibility: A measure of whether a transplanted organ is likely to work in the recipient’s body without being rejected.
  • Compatible: When a donor’s organ or blood type is suitable for a particular recipient, reducing the risk of rejection.
  • Creatinine: A waste product made by muscles. Healthy kidneys filter it out, so high levels in the blood usually mean reduced kidney function.
  • Crossmatch: A laboratory test to check if a recipient’s immune system is likely to react against a donor’s tissue or blood.
D
  • Deceased Donor Transplant: A transplant where the organ (such as a kidney) comes from a person who has died and donated their organ(s).
  • Dialysis: A treatment that removes waste, extra fluid, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys can’t do this on their own.
  • Dialyser: The part of a dialysis machine that acts as an artificial kidney by filtering the blood.
  • Dialysis Fluid (Dialysate): The special solution used in dialysis that draws waste and extra fluid out of the blood.
  • Dialysis Modality: The type or method of dialysis treatment. The two main types are haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
  • Donor: A person who donates or gives their organ(s) to another person for transplantation, for example, their kidney. There are living donors and deceased donors.
E
  • End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD): The final stage of chronic kidney disease, when the kidneys have lost almost all ability to function. At this point, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to take over the job of filtering waste and fluid from the blood. Also called kidney failure, end-stage kidney (or renal) failure, or stage 5 CKD.
  • Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR): A blood test estimate of how well your kidneys are filtering waste. eGFR helps doctors check kidney function and track the progression of kidney disease. Lower eGFR means reduced kidney function.
F
  • Fistula (Arteriovenous Fistula): A surgical connection between an artery and a vein, usually in the arm, used for haemodialysis access. It allows for repeated needle insertion and strong blood flow during dialysis.
  • Functioning (Kidney) Transplant: A transplanted kidney that is working well enough to keep the person healthy without needing dialysis.
G
  • Glomeruli: Tiny networks of blood vessels in the kidneys that act as filters, removing waste and excess fluid from the blood.
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR): A measure of how much blood passes through the glomeruli (kidney filters) each minute — an important way to assess kidney function.
  • Glomerulonephritis (GN): Inflammation of the glomeruli, often caused by immune system conditions or infections. GN can lead to kidney damage or chronic kidney disease.
  • Graft (Arteriovenous Graft): A soft synthetic tube surgically placed under the skin to connect an artery and vein for haemodialysis access when a fistula is not possible.
H
  • Haematuria: The presence of blood in the urine. It can be a sign of kidney or urinary tract problems.
  • Haemodialysis (HD): A type of dialysis where blood is drawn from the body, cleaned through a dialysis machine, and then returned to the bloodstream. This is usually done several times a week.
  • Hypertension: High blood pressure. Hypertension is a common cause and complication of kidney disease. Over time, it can damage the kidneys and other organs.
I
  • Idiopathic: A term used when the exact cause of a disease or condition is unknown.
  • Incidence: The number of new cases of a disease or condition within a certain population and time period. For example, the number of people who start dialysis in a year. This is different to prevalence, which counts all cases at a certain timepoint, not just new cases.
  • Intravenous (IV): Delivering fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into a vein.
K
  • Kidney (Renal) Failure: When the kidneys stop working well enough to keep the body healthy. At this stage, dialysis or a transplant is needed to replace lost kidney function.
  • Kidney Replacement Therapy (KRT): The treatments that replace kidney function when kidneys fail. This includes dialysis and kidney transplantation.
  • Kidney Transplant: An operation where a healthy kidney from a donor is placed into the body of a person with kidney failure. The new kidney takes over the job of filtering waste and fluid.
L
  • Living Kidney Donation: When a living person donates one of their kidneys, often to a family member or friend, for transplantation. The donor can live a healthy life with one kidney.
M
  • Modality (Dialysis Modality): The type of treatment used for kidney failure. Common modalities include haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation.
  • Mortality: A term that refers to death, usually in reference to the number of deaths in a population or group, often used in health statistics.
N
  • Nephrologist: A doctor who specialises in kidney care and treating kidney diseases.
P
  • Per Million Population (pmp): A way of reporting health data that shows the number of cases or treatments per one million people in a population. It is useful for comparing data between regions or countries.
  • Peritoneal Dialysis (PD): A type of dialysis that uses the lining of the abdomen (the peritoneum) to filter waste and fluid from the blood. There are two types of PD:
    • Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD): Dialysis done manually by draining fluid in and out of the abdomen several times a day.
    • Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD): Dialysis done overnight using a machine that cycles fluid in and out automatically while the person sleeps.
  • Peritoneum: A thin membrane that lines the inside of the abdomen and covers abdominal organs. It is used in peritoneal dialysis as a natural filter.
  • Peritonitis: An infection or inflammation of the peritoneum, often a complication of peritoneal dialysis.
  • Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD): An inherited condition where fluid-filled cysts grow in the kidneys, often leading to kidney enlargement and loss of kidney function over time.
  • Pre-emptive Transplantation: Receiving a kidney transplant before starting dialysis. This is considered the best option when possible.
  • Prevalence: The total number of people with a certain disease or condition at a specific time. Prevalence is different from incidence, which counts new cases only.
  • Pruritus: Itching. This is a common symptom in people with kidney disease, especially in advanced stages.
  • Psychosocial: Refers to the combined influence of psychological (mental and emotional) and social factors on health and well-being.
  • Pyelonephritis: A bacterial infection of the kidneys, often starting as a urinary tract infection and sometimes causing fever, pain, or kidney damage if untreated.
Q
  • Quality of Life (QOL): A measure of a person’s overall well-being, including physical health, mental health, relationships, work, and ability to enjoy life.
R
  • Registry: A system for collecting information about people with a certain disease or treatment. Registries help track outcomes, monitor care, and improve treatment over time. Registries are often Clinical Quality Registries, so may be referred to as CQRs.
  • Renal: A medical term meaning "related to the kidneys."
  • Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT): Another term for kidney replacement therapy — includes dialysis and kidney transplant.
  • Rejection: When the immune system attacks a transplanted organ, seeing it as foreign. Rejection can often be controlled with medication.
U
  • Uraemia: A buildup of waste products in the blood because the kidneys can’t filter them out. This can cause symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and confusion.
  • Urea: A waste product made when the body breaks down protein. Healthy kidneys remove it through urine.
W
  • Waitlisting / Waitlisted: Being officially placed on the transplant waiting list while waiting for a suitable organ, such as a kidney, from a deceased donor.

ANZETD

Terms used in tissue and eye donation and transplantation, covering donor types, tissue categories, and transplant processes.

A
  • Amnion: Is the inner most layer of the embryonic membranes. Amnion donation is a unique living donation program, whereby women having an elective caesarean section can agree to donate their foetal tissues including the amnion membrane, which would otherwise be discarded
C
  • Cardiovascular Tissue: Cardiovascular tissue incorporates donation of heart valves, pericardium and thoracic aorta
  • Cornea: The cornea is the transparent front part of the eyeball which covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber
D
  • Deceased Solid Organ and Tissue Donation: Identifies a donation event where one or more solid organs and tissues are retrieved from a deceased donor. Data has been cross checked with the solid organ and tissue sector to ensure the donor has met the deceased solid organ and tissue donation criteria
  • Deceased Tissue Donation: Identifies a donation event where one or more tissues are retrieved from a deceased donor.  Can comprise of musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, skin or eye tissue.
  • Donation Event: (1) A single retrieval event, within a calendar day, where a living donor can donate one or more musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, or amnion tissues; (2) Retrieval from deceased donors of solid organ, tissue and/or eyes that may occur on different days but after the donor declaration of death date

E

  • Eye Only Donor: Deceased donor where eye only retrieval has taken place. A donor is counted as an eye only donor if 2 whole eyes, 2 corneas only, one eye or one cornea only is retrieved. Outcomes of donated eye tissue are not limited to transplantation
  • Eye and Tissue Only Donor: A deceased donor from whom an eye and one or more additional tissues (e.g., musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, or skin) have been donated. The donation event and donor classification are cross-checked with the relevant tissue sector to ensure accuracy
  • Solid Organ, Eye and Tissue Donor: A deceased donor from whom solid organ, eye, and tissue retrieval has occurred. Tissue donation may include any type (e.g., musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, skin, amnion). Donation events and donor classification are cross-checked with the relevant solid organ and tissue sectors to ensure accuracy
  • Eye Donation: Unless otherwise specified, all donors undergo retrieval of either both whole eyes or both cornea
  • Eye Tissue Transplant: Corneal or scleral tissue transplanted into a recipient within the reporting period
  • Eye Tissue Recipient: An eye tissue recipient is a person who receives donated corneal or scleral tissue to restore sight or improve ocular function after a medical condition or injury has damaged their own eye tissue
L
  • Living Tissue Donation: Identifies a donation event where one or more tissues are retrieved from a living donor. Living tissue may include amnion or cardiovascular tissue, but is predominantly femoral heads (bone) collected during hip replacement surgery. A living musculoskeletal donor can donate one femoral head in a single event, two femoral heads in one event, or one femoral head across two separate donation events
M
  • Musculoskeletal Tissue: Includes, but not limited to, bone, cartilage and tendon retrieved from areas such as the pelvis, arm and leg
N
  • Notified Tissue Graft Implants: The number of tissue grafts supplied and confirmed by the hospital as implanted, reported to the distributing tissue bank. A single recipient may receive multiple graft implants
  • Notified Tissue Graft Recipients: The number of recipients, confirmed by the hospital to the distributing tissue bank, who receive one or more graft implants during a single tissue transplant event

P

  • Pancreas Islets: Pancreatic islets are clusters of endocrine cells within the pancreas that produce and secrete hormones like insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide, which regulate blood sugar and other metabolic processes

S

  • Sclera: The sclera is the white, opaque, fibrous outer layer of the eyeball. It provides structural integrity and protects the delicate inner structures of the eye
  • Skin Tissue: Includes, but not limited to, split thickness skin (epidermis and upper part of the dermis), of varying size

T

  • Tissue Transplant Event: A single tissue transplant event occurs when a recipient receives one or more tissue grafts on a single occasion. This counts as one tissue graft recipient and one tissue transplant event. If a recipient receives grafts during multiple separate occasions, each occasion counts as one tissue transplant event, and the recipient is counted once for each event

U

  • Unique donor: A deceased or living donor who donates one or more tissue(s) during a single donation event

ANZLKD

Terms used in living kidney donation and transplantation, including consent, donor evaluation, and transplant procedures.

C
  • Consent to Donation: Permission given for the removal of cells, tissues, or organs for transplantation. This consent must be voluntary, informed, and meet legal requirements.
  • Confidentiality: The responsibility to protect personal or medical information shared in a relationship of trust. In healthcare, this means keeping a donor’s or patient’s information private unless permission is given or disclosure is required by law.
D
  • Donor: A person who provides cells, tissues, or organs for transplantation, either while alive or after death.
  • Donor Evaluation: The process of assessing a potential donor’s medical, surgical, and psychological suitability to ensure donation is safe for them and appropriate for the recipient.
  • Donor Safety: Protecting the donor’s health by minimising risks and managing any complications related to the donation process.
F
  • Follow-up: Ongoing check-ups and monitoring after donation or transplantation, used to safeguard the health of both donors and recipients over time.
G
  • Grafted: A term used to describe cells, tissues, or organs that have been transplanted from a donor into a recipient.
I
  • Informed Consent: When a person agrees to a medical procedure, treatment, or research participation after receiving clear, understandable information about the risks, benefits, and alternatives, and having the opportunity to ask questions.
L
  • Living Donor (LD): A living person who donates cells, tissues, or an organ, like a kidney, for transplantation. Living donors may be:
    • Genetically Related: A biological family member, such as a parent, sibling, child, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew.
    • Emotionally Related: Someone with a close personal relationship, such as a spouse, in-law, adopted family member, or friend.
    • Unrelated (Non-Related): A person with no genetic or emotional relationship to the recipient.
P
  • Paired Kidney Exchange (PKE): An arrangement where two or more donor-recipient pairs swap kidneys. This is used when a donor is not a match for their intended recipient but matches someone else in the exchange.
R
  • Recipient: The person who receives a transplant of cells, tissues, or an organ from a donor.
T
  • Transplantation: The process of transferring cells, tissues, or an organ from a donor to a recipient to restore or replace lost function.