Medical Description

Symptoms

• unintentional weight loss
• nausea and vomiting
• flu-like symptoms
• fatigue
• headache
• frequent hiccups
• pruritis (generalized itching)

General Information

Chronic kidney failure results from any disease or harm to the body that causes gradual loss of kidney function. It can range from mild dysfunction to severe kidney failure. Progression may continue to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In the early stages, there may be no symptoms. In fact, progression may be so gradual that symptoms do not occur until kidney function is less than one-tenth of normal.

Causes of chronic kidney failure results from a chronic illness over a period of years. Common causes of progressive chronic kidney failure include:

• Diabetes – related to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes,

• High Blood Pressure (hypertension) – untreated or inadequately treated high blood pressure,

• Obstructuive Nephropahty – urine outflow is blocked over time by an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, tumors or by vesicoureteral reflux,

• Kidney Diseases - includes clusters of cysts in the kidney, kidney infection, or imfalmmation,

• Kidney Artery Stenosis - narrowing or blockage of the kidney artery before it enters the kidney, and

• Toxins - ongoing exposure to fuels and solvents that include lead-based paint/pipes, jewelry, and other toxic ingredients.

Treatment

There is no cure for chronic kidney failure. Treatment of chronic kidney failure can help control signs and symptoms, reduce complications, and slow progress of the disease.

The first step is treating the underlying condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

In addition, a proper diet is extremely important in treating chronic kidney failure.

The next step is to treat complications of chronic kidney failure such as taking supplements to help with production or combating of cells and other vital health.

By the time end-stage kidney disease develops, the kidneys are functioning at less than 10% to 15% of capacity. Doctors may try to manage chronic kidney failure with dialysis. Dialysis is an artificial means of removing waste products and extra fluid from the blood when kidneys are not able to do on its own.

There are several different types of kidney dialysis. They include:

• Hemodialysis - This type of dialysis removes extra fluids, chemicals and wastes from your bloodstream by filtering your blood through an artificial kidney (dialyzer).

• Peritoneal dialysis - This type of dialysis uses the vast network of tiny blood vessels in your own abdomen (peritoneal cavity) to filter your blood.

• Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis - This type of dialysis is performed at home, exchanging the dialysis solution in your abdomen four times a day, seven days a week.

• Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis- In this type of dialysis, a machine (cycler machine) automatically infuses dialysis solution into and out of your peritoneal cavity over a period of 10 to 12 hours while you sleep.

The final option treatment to chronic kidney failure is kidney transplant. Although this treatment is usually a better option than dialysis, finding the right donor may be difficult.

Source: “Kidney failure, chronic,”, Mayo Clinic, May 12, 2006.

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