Risks of drinking alcohol with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Imbibing can interfere with medications, add stress to kidneys, says UCI Health nephrologist
IN THE NEWS: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) makes it harder the kidneys to filter out waste. Those with the condition may wonder if it’s safe to drink alcohol.
Dr. Yongen Chang, a kidney disease specialist at UCI Health, recently spoke with Everyday Health about the potential risks.
“Patients with FSGS require specific treatments. Some of them may have negative effects on the liver.”
There are several ways that alcohol can stress and damage even healthy kidneys:
- It may prevent the liver from effectively filtering toxins.
- Too much can cause dehydration, injuring the kidneys.
- It can cause high blood pressure, damaging the kidneys over time.
Alcohol can also make treatment less effective, according to Chang.
It is critically important for people who have FSGS to stick to their treatment regimen.
No amount of alcohol is completely safe, Chang says, and should be avoided entirely when taking FSGS medications.
It’s important to follow up with a nephrologist who provides FSGS treatment to monitor liver function and any interactions with certain medications.
Chang is a board-certified nephrologist at UCI Health. She is the principal investigator of the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) and co-director of the Center for Glomerular Diseases. Her clinical interests include treatment-resistant hypertension, chronic kidney disease and kidney disease in pregnancy. She is also an associate professor in the Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation Medicine at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
Make an appointment at UCI Health Nephrology Services by calling 949-824-8600.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,513-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, its newest facility, UCI Health — Irvine Rehabilitation Hospital, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health system, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.