One of the kidneys key functions is to get rid of waste products from the body. If they stop working properly, waste products can build up. This is known as kidney, or renal, failure. It can happen very quickly, over a few days, weeks or months (known as acute renal failure) or very slowly over a period of years (chronic renal failure).
Please note: the information below does not constitute medical advice. If you have any concerns at all, speak to your GP or consultant.
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In both cases, if left untreated kidney failure can be life-threatening.
In the case of chronic renal failure, the problem is usually not identified at an early stage and so has been going on for some time. It is often discovered on routine examinations of the blood and urine. Symptoms may not be noticed until the kidney failure is very advanced. Symptoms include:
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The doctor will diagnose renal failure from your symptoms, a physical examination and tests of your blood and urine, which will show whether your kidneys are working normally. Further tests in a hospital may also be required, including:
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Acute renal failure treatment involves finding and treating the underlying causes. You may also be given:
If the ureters (tubes from your kidneys) are blocked, fine internal tubes called stents can be put in place to relieve the obstruction.
If the renal failure is life-threatening, you may need to go onto a dialysis machine for a short while until kidney function has returned to normal. Dialysis removes waste products from the blood and removes excess water.
As long-term damage to the kidneys is irreversible, there is no cure for chronic renal failure. Treatment is focused on controlling symptoms and slowing down the progression of the disease.
Other conditions that can follow chronic renal failure must be controlled and treated where possible. These conditions include high blood pressure, heart failure, urinary tract infections and kidney stones.
If you become anaemic, blood transfusions or iron medications might be necessary. Your diet will probably be adjusted to make sure that less waste is produced so that your kidneys do not have to work so hard.
If your kidneys continue to deteriorate in function, you may develop end-stage renal disease. This usually occurs after 10 to 20 years of chronic renal failure.
End stage renal disease (ESRD) is when the kidneys are so damaged that they are no longer able to work effectively enough to support day-to-day life. This is usually when the kidneys are working at 10% of their capacity.
At this stage, without long-term dialysis or kidney transplantation, severe complications and death will occur from the accumulation of fluids, toxins and poisons in the body. Dialysis or a kidney transplant are the only methods of treatment for someone with ESRD.
Speak to your GP if you have concerns about your kidneys or need advice on getting treatment. You can also find other useful websites via our links section.
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