A decline in kidney function (Stage 5-kidney function falls below 10% to 15%, to see other stages see acute kidney failure) over time.
This condition can lead to: a mineral imbalance, acid imbalance, anaemia (due to kidney stops producing hormone erythropoietin- which lets the body know how many red blood cells to make), bone disorders, lower levels of red blood cells produced and raising ones blood pressure leading to heart complications.
Diagnosis test
To determine the type of kidney disease one needs to measure the kidney function:
Insufficient blood flow to the kidneys can cause acute prerenal kidney failure.
The kidneys can’t filter toxins from the blood without enough blood flow.
This type of kidney failure can usually be cured once your doctor determines the cause of the decreased blood flow.
Acute intrinsic kidney failure
Acute intrinsic kidney failure can result from direct trauma to the kidneys, such as physical impact or an accident.
Causes also include toxin overload and ischemia, which is a lack of oxygen to the kidneys.
The following may cause ischemia:
Severe bleeding
Shock
Renal blood vessel obstruction
Glomerulonephritis
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. Intrinsic kidney disease develops from a direct trauma to the kidneys, such as severe bleeding or a lack of oxygen.
Chronic post-renal kidney failure
A long-term blockage of the urinary tract prevents urination. This causes pressure and eventual kidney damage.
Healthline
Stages of kidney failure:
The guideline defines:
Stage 0
(No CKM risk) as the absence of CKM risk factors (eg, metabolic risk factors, excess/dysfunctional adiposity, history of CKD) with normal body mass index, lipid profile, waist circumference, normoglycemia, normotension, subclinical or clinical CVD, and no evidence of CKD.
Stage 1
CKM syndrome is characterized by presences of abdominal obesity, excess weight, or dysfunctional adipose tissue (clinically manifest as prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance) without other CVD or metabolic risk factors.
Patients with stage 1 CKM syndrome should have their blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides assessed every 2-3 years with the aim of preventing progression to later stages of disease.
Stage 2
CKM syndrome is characterized by the presence of kidney disease and metabolic risk factors including diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.
Screening at stage 2 should include yearly assessment of blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and kidney function in alignment with the goal of addressing risk factors and preventing progression to CVD and kidney failure.
More frequent kidney screening is recommended for patients at higher risk for kidney failure on the basis of assessments of kidney function.
Stage 3
CKM syndrome is characterized by subclinical CVD with kidney disease or metabolic risk factors or high predicted risk for CVD.
The goal is to intensify efforts to prevent kidney failure and progression to symptomatic CVD.
Stage 4a and 4b
CKM syndrome is characterized by symptomatic kidney disease, metabolic risk factors, CVD, or excess body fat.
Stage 4 CKM syndrome is divided into two categories based on the presence or absence of kidney failure: 4a, no failure; 4b, failure present.
Patients with stage 4 CKM syndrome might have already had a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke or have cardiovascular conditions (i.e. heart failure, peripheral artery disease, atrial fibrillation).
IgA nephropathy (an antibody protein called IgA which builds up in the kidney causing kidney inflammation (hot red and swollen kidney) leading to kidney scarring and hence the kidney can’t function as it should.
Alport syndrome (which damages the blood vessels of the kidneys)
Frasier syndrome – [defective development of the gonads (gonadal dysgenesis), such as underdeveloped ovaries (streak gonads); cancer of the cells that form the ovaries or testes (gonadoblastoma); and pseudohermaphroditism (a condition in which the individual has a single chromosomal and gonadal sex but combines features of both sexes in the external genitalia, causing doubt as to the true sex)]
Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
Pain and/or numbness and/or tingling sensation in one or both legs and/or foot area?
Bone pain?
Joint pain and stiffness?
Low mood and Depression?
Confusion?
Vitamin D deficiency
Brittle, soft weak bones, dental problems and/or prone to fractures or curved/bone legs and/or curved spine and/or arching back?
With a child sitting, crawling, walking is delayed?
Difficulty using arms and/or body and legs and/or lack of stamina and/or walking difficulties?
Bony knees?
Tetany (due to lack of calcium) tingling numbnessmouth, lips, tongue and fingers?
Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
Bone deformity?
Dry eyes?
Sweating on forehead due to muscle twitching?
Joint pain and stiffness?
Bone pain?
Hair loss?
Runny nose and/or nasal congestion and/or a cold not cleared by over the counter medication or greater than three weeks?
Weight gain?
One find passing stools difficult (can be painful) and constipated?
Pain in sternum (located in middle of chest)
Pain in pelvis area and/or lower back and/or intense pain in the back or side (or moving pain from back to side) or in groin area?
Balance and dizziness?
General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
Difficulty sleeping and/or lack of sleep?
Seizures?
Rickets
Joint stiffness and pain?
Sore bone pain?
Thick ankles or wrists?
‘Pigeon chest’ where breast bone sticks out?
Poor growth and development?
Brittle, soft weak bones, dental problems and/or prone to fractures or curved/bone legs and/or curved spine?
Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
Pain and/or numbness and/or tingling sensation in one or both legs and/or foot area?
General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
Pain and/or numbness and/or tingling sensation in one or both legs and/or foot area?
Sickness and nausea feeling?
Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than than two days (one day if a child)?
Short of breath and/or breathing difficulties?
Chest pain and/or tight chest?
Heart palpitations and/or irregular heartbeats?
Anaemia (lack of erythropoietin)
Balance and dizziness problems?
Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
Sensitivity to every day noise and/or ringing noise within and/or difficulty hearing?
Short of breath or breathing difficulties?
Lack of energy?
Heart palpitations, irregular heartbeats?
Altered sense of taste?
Desire to eat non-food items, such as ice, paper or clay?
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)?
Dry, flaking, spoon-shaped nails?
Painful ulcers (open sores) on the corners of your mouth (angular chelosis)?
Pale looking?
Sore, smooth looking tongue?
Skin very itchy?
Hyperparathyroidism
General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Kidney failure urine colour
The color of your urine is a small window into your body’s health. It doesn’t tell you much about the state of your kidney function until damage to the kidneys has progressed.
Still, changes to urine color may alert you of some issues.
Clear or pale yellow. This colour indicates you’re well hydrated. This is the ideal colour in most cases.
Dark yellow or amber. You may be dehydrated. Try drinking more water and cutting down on dark sodas, tea, or coffee.
Orange. This could be a sign of dehydration, or it might be a sign of bile in your bloodstream. Kidney disease doesn’t typically cause this.
Pink or red. Urine with a pink tint or bit of red could have blood in it. It could also be caused by certain foods, like beets or strawberries. A quick urine test can tell the difference.
Foamy. Urine with excess bubbles is a sign that it likely has a lot of protein in it. Protein in urine is a sign of kidney disease.
Healthline
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Kidney (Renal) Failure in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
The Pharmaceutical Journal covers analysis, features, opinion, learning and careers articles, providing insight and knowledge about drugs, pharmacy practice, medicines use and healthcare policy in the context of the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical science.
