Editing Kidney dialysis (section)

==Background==
[[File:Hemodialysismachine.jpg|thumb|A [[hemodialysis]] machine]]
The [[kidney]]s have an important role in maintaining health. When the person is healthy, the kidneys maintain the body's internal equilibrium of water and minerals (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulphate). The acidic [[metabolism]] end-products that the body cannot get rid of via respiration are also excreted through the kidneys. The kidneys also function as a part of the [[endocrine system]], producing [[erythropoietin]], [[1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol|calcitriol]] and [[renin]]. Erythropoietin is involved in the production of red blood cells and calcitriol plays a role in bone formation.<ref>Brundage D. ''Renal Disorders''. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 1992</ref> Dialysis is an imperfect treatment to replace kidney function because it does not correct the compromised endocrine functions of the kidney. Dialysis treatments replace some of these functions through [[diffusion]] (waste removal) and [[ultrafiltration]] (fluid removal).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kidneyatlas.org/book5/adk5-01.ccc.QXD.pdf |title=Atlas of Diseases of the Kidney, Volume 5, Principles of Dialysis: Diffusion, Convection, and Dialysis Machines |access-date=2011-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726220946/http://www.kidneyatlas.org/book5/adk5-01.ccc.QXD.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Dialysis uses highly purified (also known as "ultrapure") water.<ref>{{cite web|title=Home Hemodialysis and Water Treatment|url=https://www.davita.com/treatment-options/hemodialysis/home-hemodialysis/home-hemodialysis-and-water-treatment/t/5581|website=Davita|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925123517/https://www.davita.com/treatment-options/hemodialysis/home-hemodialysis/home-hemodialysis-and-water-treatment/t/5581|url-status=dead}}</ref>