All About Chronic Renal Failure
- Siphosami Ndala
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
Chronic renal failure is a disease where one's kidneys are no longer functioning optimally. This condition happens in stages as the functionality of the kidneys drops and decreases over time. Chronic renal failure is also referred to as chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic kidney failure.
What do kidneys do?
Our bodies naturally have two kidneys, one on the left and one on the right side in our upper abdomen. They have a bean-shaped form. Kidneys are located towards the back of the peritoneum. They form a major part of the urinary system which is responsible for waste filtering and removing excess fluids in our bodies. This excretory process helps to avoid an accumulation of some substances in your blood which should be regulated at specific ranges for one's body systems to function normally. Kidney failure however means that these substances are not excreted adequately, hence ending up accumulating to dangerous levels.
Most Common Symptoms of Chronic Renal Failure
The deterioration of kidney function happens over time and requires prompt assessment as soon as symptoms are noted or reported, or when they are not resolving with first line treatments. Since renal failure is progressive in nature, one may experience fewer symptoms in the beginning, however as the disease progresses, so will the symptoms. Common symptoms of renal failure include the following: -
unresolving edema noted on feet, ankles and sometimes hands
constant tiredness or lethargy which may be due to kidney disease related anemia
frequent need to urinate
persistent elevated blood pressure and blood sugars
unplanned or unintentional weight loss
urine that is foamy or bubbly
constant poor appetite
Causes of Chronic Renal Failure
There are several potential causes or risk factors of chronic kidney failure, with the most common being medical conditions like uncontrolled diabetes and uncontrolled levels of blood pressure.
Other common causes of renal failure are linked to multiple urinary conditions or infections like kidney stones and pyelonephritis, which is a bacterial kidney infection.
Genetic or hereditary kidney disorders like polycystic kidney disease are high risk factors for chronic renal failure. This condition causes multiple cyst formation in the kidneys thus reducing and slowing the performance of the kidneys. There are 3 types of polycystic kidney conditions- autosomal, infantile and acquired.
Persons over the age of 60 are at a higher risk of acquiring chronic renal failure due to their lowered immunity because of the ageing process and because of being prone to having multiple chronic comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.
Obesity, autoimmune conditions like Lupus and most heart conditions play a role in causing chronic renal failure and thus require proper medical management to prevent it.
Overuse and abuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) can have a negative impact on the health of the kidneys.
Diagnosing Chronic Renal Failure
Urine Tests: a urine test is often done to check for any waste abnormality or waste substance accumulation in the urine. Presence of certain substances like creatinine, urea, sodium and potassium in elevated ranges often indicate a kidney problem and a need for further investigations is needed.
Blood Tests: An estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). which is a blood test focusing on the stage at which the kidneys have stopped functioning well. A U&E blood test is also a good way to reveal any issues your kidneys may have. We shall discuss the eGFR further on in the article and how it helps grade CKD.
Kidney Imaging: radiological tests like ultrasounds, x-rays, CT scans and MRI scans, may provide further insight on the diagnosis of kidney disease as well as excluding a differential diagnosis. A kidney biopsy is also another effective way of diagnosing chronic renal failure, with the use of x-rays or ultrasound guidance.
The Five Stages of Chronic Renal Failure
There are five stages of chronic renal failure, ranging from mild to severe cases.
Treatment of Chronic Renal Failure
CKD is not a curable disease but can be successfully managed through various lifestyle changes and treatment compliance where applicable.
Below are ways to manage and treat CKD: -
eat a kidney-safe diet so as to not further cause a decline in their functioning. This includes avoiding foods that may be high in sodium, potassium and other electrolytes.
keep an active lifestyle in order to maintain a healthy weight and prevent becoming obese, which is a risk factor for CKD
manage your chronic medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes through treatment compliance and do not default taking medication. Ensure medication is taken by the correctly- by the correct person, the correct drug, correct time, correct dose and correct route, as directed by your healthcare provider.
as far as is possible, keep your stress levels low as it can aggravate hypertension and diabetes, thus leading to chronic renal failure
for stage 5 renal failure there are two types of dialysis treatments, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis is a kidney-disease treatment where a machine plays the filtration role of kidneys by drawing out blood from the patient, into itself, then cleans it and pumps it back into the patient's blood stream cleaned of unwanted waste substances. Peritoneal dialysis however utilizes a dialysis fluid which is infused into the peritoneal cavity, and it has a filtration ability.
kidney transplantation is another treatment option for CKD. This is an invasive major surgery where a qualified renal doctor (nephrologist) will perform the operation of removing a diseased kidney and placing a new healthier one.
Overall, there are ways on how one can live a full life with chronic renal failure at all stages of the disease. It is imperative to see your healthcare practitioner when you notice signs and symptoms of renal failure. Early detection, early treatment is key.
REFERENCES
Bentall, A. (2022) Mayo Clinic Explains Kidney Disease. Available at: https://youtu.be/OVk4YXwJp98?si=ilA3sBr288Thpfvn (Accessed on: 02/09/2025)
Cleveland Clinic. (2023) Chronic Kidney Disease. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15096-chronic-kidney-disease (Accessed on: 02/09/2025)
NKF Patient Education Team. (2023) Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Available at: https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd (Accessed on: 02/09/2025)
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