Renal failure

Also known as "Kidney disease"

We have selected the following expert medical opinion based on its clarity, reliability and accuracy. Credits: Sourced from the website Patient UK, authored by Dr Colin Tidy (see below). Please refer to your own medical practitioner for a final perspective, assessment or evaluation.

Overview

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that your kidneys are not working as well as they once did. Various conditions can cause CKD. Severity can vary but most cases are mild or moderate, occur in older people, do not cause symptoms and tend to become worse gradually over months or years.

People with any stage of CKD have an increased risk of developing heart disease or a stroke. This is why it is important to detect even mild CKD. Treatment may not only slow down the progression of the disease, but also reduce the risk of developing heart disease or stroke.

What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that your kidneys are diseased or damaged in some way, or are ageing. As a result, your kidneys may not work as well as they used to. So, the various functions of the kidney, as described in the previous section, can be affected. A whole range of conditions can cause CKD (see later). 

Chronic means ongoing, persistent and long-term. It does not mean severe as some people think. You can have a mild chronic disease. Many people have mild CKD.

CKD used to be called chronic renal failure, but CKD is a better term, as the word failure implies that the kidneys have totally stopped working. In most cases of CKD this is not so. In most people who have CKD there is only a mild or moderate reduction in kidney function, which usually does not cause symptoms, and the kidneys have not 'failed'.

What is kidney failure?

Kidney failure means that your kidneys can't work properly.

The two main forms are:

• Chronic kidney disease.
• Acute kidney injury (AKI): this used to be called acute renal failure. It means that the function of the kidneys is rapidly affected - over hours or days. For example, the kidneys may go into AKI if you have a serious blood infection which can affect the kidneys. This is in contrast to CKD where the decline in function of the kidneys is very gradual - over months or years. 

Chronic kidney disease

How is chronic kidney disease diagnosed?

Kidney function is assessed using a combination of a blood test called the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and a measure of the amount of protein in the urine (proteinuria). Increased protein in the urine and decreased eGFR are both associated with an increased risk of progressive CKD.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR):

A normal eGFR is 90 ml/minute/1.73 m or more. If some of the glomeruli do not filter as much as normal, then the kidney is said to have reduced or impaired kidney function.

The eGFR test involves a blood test which measures a chemical called creatinine. Creatinine is a breakdown product of muscle. Creatinine is normally cleared from the blood by the kidneys. If your kidneys are not working so well and the glomeruli are not filtering as much blood as normal, the level of creatinine in the blood goes up.

The eGFR is calculated from your age, sex and blood creatinine level. An adjustment to the calculation is needed for people with African-Caribbean origin. 

Proteinuria:

Proteinuria means that your urine contains an abnormal amount of protein. Most proteins are too big to pass through the kidneys' filters and get into the urine. However, we all leak tiny amounts of a small protein called albumin into our urine.

If a kidney is damaged, then increased amounts of albumin and other larger proteins from our blood can pass into the urine. This abnormal amount of protein in the urine is known as proteinuria. The amount of proteinuria is a good indicator of the extent of kidney damage. Proteinuria is also associated with an increased risk of the development of heart and blood vessel disease.

Proteinuria is usually first detected by a simple dipstick urine test. The amount of proteinuria is then usually measured by a sample of urine sent to the laboratory to measure the ratio of the level of either albumin or total protein in the urine compared with the amount of creatinine in the urine.

A lower level of excess protein in the urine is called microalbuminuria.

Chronic kidney disease symptoms

You are unlikely to feel unwell or have symptoms with mild-to-moderate CKD - that is, stages 1 to 3. (However, there may be symptoms of an underlying condition such as kidney pain with certain kidney conditions.) CKD is usually diagnosed by the eGFR test before any symptoms develop.

Symptoms tend to develop when CKD becomes severe (stage 4) or worse. The symptoms at first tend to be vague and nonspecific, such as feeling tired, having less energy than usual and just not feeling well.

With more severe CKD, symptoms that may develop include:

• Difficulty thinking clearly.
• A poor appetite.
• Weight loss.
• Dry, itchy skin.
• Muscle cramps.
• Fluid retention which causes swollen feet and ankles.
• Puffiness around the eyes.
• A need to pass urine more often than usual.
• Being pale due to anaemia.
• Feeling sick.

If the kidney function declines to stage 4 or 5 then various other problems may develop - for example, anaemia and an imbalance of calcium, phosphate and other chemicals in the bloodstream. These can cause various symptoms, such as tiredness due to anaemia, and bone thinning or fractures due to calcium and phosphate imbalance. End-stage kidney failure (stage 5) is eventually fatal unless treated.

How common is chronic kidney disease?

• About 1 in 10 people have some degree of CKD. It can develop at any age and various conditions can lead to CKD. It becomes more common with increasing age and is more common in women.
• Although about half of people aged 75 or more have some degree of CKD, most of these people do not actually have diseases of their kidneys; they have normal ageing of their kidneys.
• Most cases of CKD are mild or moderate (stages 1-3).

What causes chronic kidney disease?

A number of conditions can cause permanent damage to the kidneys and/or affect the function of the kidneys and lead to CKD.

Three common causes in the UK, which probably account for about three in four cases of CKD in adults, are:

• Diabetes: Diabetic kidney disease is a common complication of diabetes.
• High blood pressure: Untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure is a major cause of CKD. However, CKD can also cause high blood pressure, as the kidney has a role in blood pressure regulation. About nine out of ten people with CKD stages 3-5 have high blood pressure.
• Ageing kidneys: There appears to be an age-related decline in kidney function. About half of people aged 75 or more have some degree of CKD. In most of these cases, the CKD does not progress beyond the moderate stage unless other problems of the kidney develop, such as diabetic kidney disease.

Other less common conditions that can cause CKD include:

• Diseases of the tiny filters (glomeruli), such as inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidneys (glomerulonephritis).
• Narrowing of the artery taking blood to the kidney (renal artery stenosis)
• Polycystic kidney disease.
• Blockages to the flow of urine, and repeated kidney infections.
• However, this list is not complete and there are many other causes.

Do I need any further tests?

As mentioned, the eGFR test is done to diagnose and monitor the progression and severity of CKD. For example, it should be done routinely at least once a year in people with stages 1 and 2 CKD, and more frequently in those with stage 3, 4 or 5 CKD.

You are likely to have routine urine dipstick tests from time to time to check for blood and protein in the urine. Also, blood tests may be done from time to time to check on your blood level of chemicals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphate.


The need for other tests then depends on various factors and your doctor will advise. For example:

• An ultrasound scan of the kidneys or a kidney biopsy may be advised if certain kidney conditions are suspected. For example, if you have a lot of protein or blood in your urine, if you have pain that seems to be coming from a kidney, etc.
• A scan or having a sample taken (a biopsy) is not needed in most cases. This is because most people with CKD have a known cause for the impaired kidney function, such as a complication of diabetes, high blood pressure or ageing.
• If the CKD progresses to stage 3 or worse, then various other tests may be done. For example, blood tests to check for anaemia and an altered level of parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH is involved in the control of the blood level of calcium and phosphate.

What is the treatment for chronic kidney disease?

Treatment for most cases of CKD is usually done by GPs. This is because most cases are mild-to-moderate (stages 1-3) and do not require any specialist treatment. Your GP may refer you to a specialist if you develop stage 4 or 5 CKD, or at any stage if you have problems or symptoms that require specialist investigation.

Research studies have shown that, in many people, treatment at early stages of CKD can prevent or slow down progression through to eventual kidney failure.


The aims of treatment include:

• If possible, to treat any underlying kidney condition.
• To prevent or slow down the progression of CKD.
• To reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
• To relieve symptoms and problems caused by CKD.
• Treating any underlying kidney condition

There are various conditions that can cause CKD. For some of these there may be specific treatments for that particular condition - for example:

• Good blood sugar (glucose) control for people with diabetes.
• Blood pressure control for people with high blood pressure.
• Antibiotic medication for people with recurring kidney infections.
• Surgery for people with a blockage to urine flow.
• Preventing or slowing down the progression of CKD

Preventing or slowing down the progression of CKD

There are ways to stop CKD becoming any worse or to slow down any progression. You should have checks every now and then by your GP or practice nurse to monitor your kidney function - the eGFR test. They will also give you treatment and advice on how to prevent or slow down the progression of CKD.

This usually includes:

• Blood pressure control: The most important treatment to prevent or delay the progression of CKD, whatever the underlying cause, is to keep your blood pressure well controlled. Most people with CKD will require medication to control their blood pressure. Your doctor will give you a target blood pressure level to aim for. This is usually below 130/80 mm Hg, and even lower in some circumstances.
• Review of your medication: Certain medicines can affect the kidneys as a side-effect which can make CKD worse. For example, if you have CKD you should not take anti-inflammatory medicines unless advised to by a doctor. You may also need to adjust the dose of certain medicines that you may take if your CKD gets worse.
• Diet: if you have more advanced CKD (stage 4 or 5) then you will need to follow a special diet. (Read more about diet in chronic kidney disease below.)

Reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases

People with CKD have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. People with CKD are actually twenty times more likely to die from cardiovascular-related problems than from kidney failure. This is why reducing any other cardiovascular risk factors is so important. 

Briefly, this typically includes:

• Good control of blood pressure.
• Good control of blood glucose level if you have diabetes.
• Medication to lower your cholesterol level, which is often given to people with CKD.
• Where relevant, to tackle lifestyle risk factors. This means to:
  • Stop smoking if you smoke and cut back if you drink a lot of alcohol.
  • Eat a healthy diet which includes a low salt intake.
  • Keep your weight and waist in check.
  • Take regular physical activity.

If you have high levels of protein in your urine, then you may be advised to take medication even if your blood pressure is normal. A type of medication called an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (for example enalapril, ramipril, lisinopril, perindopril, etc) has been shown to be beneficial for some people with CKD, as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and can prevent further worsening of the function of your kidneys.

Relieving symptoms and problems caused by CKD

If CKD becomes severe you may need treatment to combat various problems caused by the poor kidney function. For example:

• Anaemia may develop which may need treatment with iron or erythropoietin - a hormone normally made by the kidneys.
• Abnormal levels of calcium or phosphate in the blood may need treatment.
• You may be advised about how much fluid to drink, and how much salt to take.
• Other dietary advice may be given which can help to control factors such as the level of calcium and potassium in your body.

If end-stage kidney failure develops, you are likely to need kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.

People with stage 3 CKD or worse should be immunised against influenza each year and have a one-off immunisation against pneumococcus. People with stage 4 CKD should be immunised against hepatitis B.

What is the outlook?

Stages 1-3 CKD (mild-to-moderate) are common, with most cases occurring in older people. It tends to become gradually worse over months or years. However, the rate of progression varies from case to case, and often depends on the severity of any underlying condition. For example, some kidney conditions may cause your kidney function to become worse relatively quickly.

However, in most cases, CKD progresses only very slowly. Only a small number of people with CKD progress to end-stage kidney failure (stage 5 CKD) that requires kidney dialysis or kidney transplant.

For many people with CKD there is a much higher risk of developing serious cardiovascular disease than of developing end-stage kidney failure.


In short, the following can make a big difference to your outlook (prognosis):

• Attention to blood pressure control.
• Careful review of medications to make sure that the only ones used are those which put least strain on kidneys.
• Tackling factors that reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

About the author

Dr Colin Tidy

MBBS, MRCGP, MRCP, DCH

Dr Colin Tidy qualified as a doctor in 1983 and he has been writing for Patient since 2004. Dr Tidy has 25 years’ experience as a General Practitioner. He now works as a GP in Oxfordshire, with a special interest in teaching doctors and nurses, as well as medical students.  In addition to writing many leaflets and articles for Patient, Dr Tidy has also contributed to medical journals and written a number of educational articles for General Practitioner magazines.

Recommended websites

For further reading go to:

• The Kidneys and Urinary Tract
• Diet in Chronic Kidney Disease
• Routine Kidney Function Blood Test

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