Chronic kidney disease is a long standing disease of the kidneys leading to renal failure.
The kidneys filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. As kidneys fail, waste builds up.
When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.
Diagnosis
Urinalysis
Blood Test
Imaging Tests
CT Scan
MRI
Ultrasound
Kidney Bioscopy
Kidney Functioning Test
Types
Acute prerenal kidney failure – Insufficient blood flow to the kidneys can cause acute prerenal kidney failure.
Acute intrinsic kidney failure – Acute intrinsic kidney failure can result from direct trauma to the kidneys, such as physical impact or an accident.
Chronic prerenal kidney failure – When there isn’t enough blood flowing to the kidneys for an extended period of time, the kidneys begin to shrink and lose the ability to function.
Chronic intrinsic kidney failure – This happens when there’s long-term damage to the kidneys due to intrinsic kidney disease.
Chronic post-renal kidney failure – A long-term blockage of urrinary tract prevents urination. This causes pressure and eventual kidney damage.
Stages
Stage 1: with normal or high GFR (GFR > 90 mL/min)
Stage 2: Mild CKD (GFR = 60-89 mL/min)
Stage 3A: Moderate CKD (GFR = 45-59 mL/min)
Stage 3B: Moderate CKD (GFR = 30-44 mL/min)
Stage 4: Severe CKD (GFR = 15-29 mL/min)
Stage 5: End Stage CKD (GFR <15 mL/min)
Symptoms
Nausea
Headache
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Fatigue and weakness
Sleep problems
Changes in how much a person urinates
Decreased mental sharpness/ Confusion
Muscle twitches and cramps
Swelling of feet and ankles
Persistent itching
Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart
Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs
High blood pressure (hypertension) that’s difficult to control
Causes
Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
low blood flow to the kidneys
inflammation
sudden high blood pressure
blockages, sometimes due to kidney stones
elevated blood sugar
high blood pressure
kidney infections
polycystic kidney disease
Heart disease
Glomerulonephritis , an inflammation of the kidney’s filtering units (glomeruli)
Interstitial nephritis , an inflammation of the kidney’s tubules and surrounding structures