Kidney (Renal) Failure - Medtick

Kidney (Renal) Failure

What is it?

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:

www.kidney.org


There are five different types of kidney failure:

Acute prerenal kidney failure

  • 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).

Medscape

Cause

Syndromes

Medication

  • Regular use of NSAIDS i.e. ibuprofen
  • Long term use of antibiotics

Vitamins, herbals and minerals

Symptoms

  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Lack of energy?
  • Weight loss?
  • Itchy skin?

If more severe or worsening condition (changes of minerals and salts occurs causing the following symptoms (one may experience some of the symptoms):

Calcium deficiency (initially)

  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Numbness and tingling around the mouth?
  • 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?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Walking difficulties?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?

Phosphate toxicity

  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Numbness and tingling around the mouth?
  • 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?
  • Rash?
  • Itchy skin?
  • Diarrhoea?

Nail changes:

  • Weak and brittle nails?

Potassium toxicity

  • 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)?
  • Find passing stools difficult and constipated?
  • Thirsty?
  • Urinate more frequently especially at night?
  • Low mood and depressed?
  • Balance and dizziness problems?
  • Altered heart rhythm (slow beating of heart)?
  • Swollen ankles, (High blood pressure)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:


This condition can lead to:

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).

  • NHS

    Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help (British National Health Service).

  • Medscape

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  • Pharmaceutical Journal

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  • Healthline

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  • Medical News Today

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  • WebMD

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  • Cleveland Clinic

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  • Mayo Clinic

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  • Drugs.com

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  • National Organisation of Rare Diseases

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  • Verywell Health

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  • Fit for Travel

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  • DR Axe

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