End Stage Renal Disease

End Stage Renal Disease

General information
When you are diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease it means that you are in the final stage of kidney disease and the kidneys do not work well enough to meet the needs of daily life. The kidneys are responsible for filtering debris and excess water from the blood in the form of urine.

If you have end-stage renal disease, also known as end-stage kidney disease (ESRD), your kidneys are functioning below 10% of your normal function. This means that the kidneys barely work or do not work at all. Kidney disease is usually progressive. Typically it does not reach the terminal stage until 10 or 20 years after the diagnosis of renal disease, which can also develop slowly.

CAUSES

Causes
Many types of kidney disease attack the nephrons (the tiny renal units that perform the filtration). The consequence is that the blood does not filter adequately and at a certain time, the ERET is present. Diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) are the two most common causes of ESRD. Diabetics can not break down glucose (sugar) properly and blood levels are kept high. Elevated blood glucose levels damage the glomeruli in the nephrons. If you have hypertension, the high pressure that is exerted on the small renal vessels causes damages that prevent that the glasses fulfill their function of filtering the blood.

RISKS

Risks
The two major groups at risk of having ERET are diabetics and hypertensives. You are also more likely to have the condition if you have family members who have the condition.

The risk of ERET also increases when you have any kind of kidney disease or condition, including:

Polycystic kidney disease
Alport syndrome
Interstitial nephritis
Pyelonephritis
Certain autoimmune diseases, such as lupus

symptom
You may have a wide range of symptoms, including:

Lower urine volume
Inability to urinate
fatigue
Feeling sick
Headaches
Weight loss of unknown origin
lack of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Dry skin and itching
Change in skin color
Bone pain
Confusion and difficulty concentrating
Other symptoms may include:

Bruise easily, in addition to bleeding frequently through the nose
Numbness in hands and feet
Halitosis (bad breath)
Excessive thirst
Frequent hiccup
Absence of menstrual cycles
Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome
Lack of sexual desire or impotence
Inflammation (edema), especially in the legs and hands
DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis
The doctor will diagnose ESRT by a physical examination and blood test to check kidney function.

TREATMENT

Treatment
There are two treatments for end stage renal disease: dialysis or kidney transplantation.

Dialysis
When you undergo dialysis, you have two options. One is hemodialysis, which is a treatment in which a machine is used to process the blood. It filters the waste with a solution and then returns clean blood to the body. This treatment is usually done three times a week and lasts three to four hours at a time. The doctor may also prescribe peritoneal dialysis (a treatment that involves the introduction of a solution into the abdomen, which is then removed through a catheter).

Kidney transplant
Kidney transplant surgery involves removing the diseased kidneys and replacing them with a donated organ. It is enough that you transplant a healthy kidney. That means that donors are often alive because they can donate a kidney and continue to function normally. Kidney transplantation is one of the most common transplant surgeries in the United States.

Other techniques
Diabetics and hypertensives must control their diseases. Both diseases are treated with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

It may be necessary to follow a diet with low sodium, potassium and other electrolytes, as well as restrict fluid consumption. It may be necessary to increase caloric intake and decrease protein intake.

Complications
The possible complications of ERET are:

Skin infections caused by dry skin and itching
Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and / or hepatic insufficiency
Heart and blood vessel problems
Accumulation of fluid around the lungs
Hyperparathyroidism
Increased risk of infection
malnutrition
Nerve damage
Pain in bones, muscles and joints
anemia
Stomach and intestinal haemorrhage
Brain dysfunction and dementia
Abnormal levels of electrolytes
Changes in blood glucose levels
Convulsions
Weakening of the bones, joint disorders and fractures
FORECAST

Forecast
The diagnosis of an ERET used to automatically be a death sentence; However, advances in treatments allow patients to live much longer than before. Without dialysis or kidney transplantation the outcome is fatal. The outcome of treatment depends on the patient.

PREVENTION

Prevention
In some cases it is not possible to prevent end stage renal disease. However, you should keep blood glucose and blood pressure under control. Always get medical care if you have symptoms of ERET, because early detection and treatment can delay or prevent this disease.