RTA (Renal Tubular Acidosis)

[CAT1962]

Anyone familiar with this? I have been having issues with thirst, and my VIt D and potassium are low. I wonder if I should ask my Rheumatologist about this next month?? I know it can develop with a diagnosis of  SjS, a lot of articles point to Primary SjS (what I have been Dx'd with.) . Just curious...


http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/tubularacidosis/

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/332125-overview

[irish]

I haven't had this but I know there have been a few people on this site who dealt with it. I think that it doesn't hurt to ask our docs for a referral to nephrologist if we are having some issues that make us question RTA.

EVeryone who has it seems to have different degrees of weakness or other issues. It is something that is good to have ruled out. Don't be afraid to ask your GP about it. Many of the GP's aren't aware that sjoggies can get this--my experience as I have asked about it several times and get blank looks. Irish

[JenBen]

Hi, I am seeing a Kidney Physician because of kidney stones and he believes that I have Renal Tubular Acidosis because the Sjogrens has infiltrated my kidneys.  Current tests are not showing the results but the Physician believes the RTA is latent or hidden.

[bflylady]

Hello, I do have RTA. Actually, the main problem that I was seeking a dx for was low potassium levels. I had several bouts of severe hypokalemia that landed me in the ER on numerous occasions. I was diagnosed with SS and Renal Tubular Acidosis. My RF Factor is 518. I have had 4 kidney stone surgeries in the past year and still have stones in my kidneys.

[Madison Granny]

I have had RTA since about 2002 but was not diagnosed until 2006.  You need to see a internal medicine doctor to get a diagnose and hopefully they will refer you to a Nephrologist. Many doctors just put you on potassium and never really diagnose what is wrong.  I finally went and got a second opinion from an internal mecine doctor who put me on sodium bi-carb but did not refer me to a Nephrologist.  After finding lots of protein in my urine my new GP refer me to a nephrologist.  I now have stage 3 kidney disease along with RTA..  I think if I had be refer early I might not have advance to stage 3/

[Nat]

One of the causes of RTA is amyloidosis. In amyloidosis, your body produces abnormal proteins called amyloids. Amyloid proteins are peptides that get folded improperly as they are being made. These misshapen proteins are found in many autoimmune diseases, including Sjogrens.  This is called secondary amyloidosis.  The body deposits these amyloids in different organs. When they are deposited in the kidneys, they can damage the tubules and this can lead to RTA.