Chronic kidney disease
Description
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Chronic kidney disease is a common condition in which the kidney losses its functions gradually over time. It usually occurs in the presence of other diseases especially high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This condition differs in severity from a mild decrease in kidney function to complete renal failure. 10-14% of people are affected by chronic kidney disease. Although women are more likely to have this condition, men are 50% more likely to develop end-stage renal disease.
Symptoms
Patients don’t have symptoms in the early stages but in late stages, symptoms may include :
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Less urination
- Sleep disturbance
- Muscle cramps
- Swelling of feet
- Chest pain due to fluid buildup around the heart
- Shortness of breath due to fluid buildup in the lungs
- Itching
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Decreased mental sharpness
- White or yellowish crystals on the skin
Visit a Nephrologist if you have any of these symptoms to be diagnosed and treated properly
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View MoreCauses
Many diseases can cause chronic kidney disease such as :
- Diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- Inflammation of kidney filtering units
- Inflammation of kidney tubules
- Genetic or cystic diseases
- Urinary obstruction due to prostate enlargement, kidney stones, or tumors
Risk factors :
- Old age
- Diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Using analgesics
- Family history of kidney disease
- Abnormal kidney structure
Diagnostics
The diagnosis is confirmed when the decrease in kidney functions persists for 3 months or more.
- Blood test (a blood sample is taken to measure the amount of a waste product called creatinine to know how well the kidney is functioning).
- Urine test (a urine sample is taken to measure the level of substances called creatinine and albumin to detect how well the kidney is functioning in addition to detecting the presence of albumin in the urine).
- Ultrasonography (an imaging procedure in which ultrasound waves are used to produce an image of the kidneys to detect the presence of changes, damage, or obstruction).
- Computed tomography imaging (a procedure in which x-ray and a computer are used to produce an image of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder to detect the presence of changes, damage, or obstruction).
Treatment
There’s no cure for this condition but controlling or treating the underlying cause can slow the disease's progression. Many treatments are used to control the symptoms, disease progression, and complications.
- Lifestyle modification :
- Stopping smoking
- Decreasing proteins in the diet
- Decreasing salt intake
- Avoid using analgesics
- Losing weight
- Doing exercise
- Medications :
- High blood pressure medications (ex: Captopril, Ramipril, Enalapril, Valsartan).
- Diabetes medications (ex: Dapagliflozin).
- Diuretics to reduce the swelling (ex: Furosemide).
- Anemia medications (ex: Erythropoietin).
- High blood cholesterol medications (ex: Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Pravastatin).
- Medications to protect the bones (Calcium, VITAMIN D3).
- Dialysis : A procedure to remove waste products and excess fluids from the blood if the kidneys stopped working or are not functioning well.
Kidney transplantation : A surgery that’s done when the kidneys stop functioning well. the kidney is replaced by another one from a donor
