Nephrology profile: Dr. Aziz Bakhous

Editor's note: March is National Kidney Month. The Register will feature a kidney-related story each Monday this month. SANDUSKY — With cases of chronic kidney disease rising nationally, Firelands Health has added a third nephrologist. Dr. Aziz Bakhous began practicing at the hospital on Feb. 1. He joined Dr. Essam Elashi and Dr. Abdul Qadir. Born in Syria, Bakhous obtained his medical degree from Al-Baath University in Homs, Syria. Nephrologists specialize in the care of the kidneys. About 1 in 7 adults in the United States has some form of chronic kidney disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That amounts to nearly 37 million people; more than 10,000 Erie County residents. Bakhous said he is fascinated by the kidneys' functions which are removing excess fluid and toxins from the bloodstream. "Their normal function is very crucial to other organ functions, especially the brain, heart and lungs," he said. After graduating, Bakhous interned at Red Crescent Health Ministry Hospital before immigrating to the United States. Before joining Firelands, the doctor had a residency at Raritan Bay Medical Center in New Jersey, a fellowship at University of Arkansas for medical sciences, and practiced at American Kidney Institute in Akron. Bakhous noted the importance of controlling diabetes and hypertension, as they are the two leading causes of kidney disease. "In order to reduce the risk of CKD, patients should take their medications, make sure blood glucose and blood pressure are within the recommended range," he said. He also said people should avoid large or regular doses of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Those with CKD need to maintain a diet low in phosphorus, he said. High phosphorus in the blood can leach calcium out of bones and teeth. Many times, a nephrologist is the first person to tell someone they have CKD or end-stage renal disease. That can take an emotional toll on doctors. "It is always hard to tell anyone they have abnormal organ function but it got better for me with experience," Bakhous said. Conversely, Bakhous said he gets personal satisfaction when his patients start to feel better after treatment. Because so many Americans who have CKD are unaware of it, Bakhous noted several important clues one may observe. Swelling in the legs, skin rashes, and abnormally dark urine are symptoms of CKD. Anyone who suspects they may have the disease can have a simple blood test performed. By measuring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, a physician can determine if a person has CKD. Currently, the treatments for ESRD are dialysis, a human kidney transplant, or no treatment. Bakhous noted that pig organ transplants are on the near horizon. In September, doctors in Baltimore grafted a genetically-engineered pig kidney into the bloodstream of a patient who was brain dead. The kidney was not rejected and returned creatinine levels to normal, according to a January article in Scientific American. Bakhous mentioned a recent pig-to-human heart transplant. He said pig-to-human kidney transplants will, "give huge hope for end-stage renal disease patients."