Our kidneys work day and night to filter our blood and get rid of all the toxic waste products in the form of urine. A lot of our body functions depend upon normal functioning of kidneys and the entire renal system.
Kidney failure is a serious clinical condition in which the kidneys fail to excrete metabolic end-products from the body. In this condition, the kidneys also fail to maintain fluid, electrolyte and pH balance of the blood.
Whenever a person is diagnosed with renal failure, the first question that comes into his/ her mind is that is it curable? And secondly, what are the stages of kidney failure causing death?
Renal failure, both acute and chronic, can happen because of a wide variety of underlying causes such as systemic illnesses, metabolic or urological disorders or some renal pathology.
Elderly people are prone to all kinds of renal failure due to reduced susceptibility and ageing. Some blood tests are suggested by doctors for kidney infection.
Type of Acute Renal Failure | Description |
Pre Tenal Failure
Occurs due to reduced blood flow to the kidneys.
It is the most common type of acute renal failure.
Treatment includes early identification of underlying cause and immediate correction of fluid loss. | Causes 1. Blood loss or fluid loss as in
2. Anaphylactic shock (from sthe evere allergic reaction) 3. Septic shock (la ife-threatening condition from widespread infection which may cause organ failure) 4. Heart failure or cardiogenic shock 5. Reduced blood flow to kidneys due to drugs, vasodilators, ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs and radio-contrast agents used for diagnostic purposes. |
Post Renal Failure
Occurs when there is an obstruction to the outflow of urine.
Treatment includes identification of the site of obstruction so that normal urine flow can be established before it damages the kidneys. | Causes 1. Obstruction in both ureter
2. Obstruction in bladder outlet
3. Obstruction in urethra
|
Intrinsic Renal or Intra Renal Failure
Occurs due to damage to structures of the kidneys.
Ischemic injury to tubules is reversible with treatment if detected early. Severe ischemia can cause irreversible changes.
| Causes Acute Tubular Necrosis (destruction of renal tubules with the disturbed functioning of kidneys). It can be caused by 1. Reduced blood flow (ischemic necrosis)
2. Drugs and medications (Nephrotoxic)
3. Obstruction within tubules (intratubular)
4. Infections like acute glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis. |
Course of Acute Renal Failure Can Be Divided into Three Phases for the Purpose of Understanding
Phase of Acute Renal Failure | Description |
Initiating phase or onset | Lasts for few hours or days until a tubular injury occurs. |
Maintenance Phase | In this phase, GFR reduces resulting in
If untreated, hypertension develops neuromuscular symptoms like seizures, coma and death. |
Recovery Phase | In this phase, renal tissue recovery takes place.
|
Early diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause is the key to prevent deaths due to acute kidney failure. Fluid replacement is done to regulate fluid and electrolyte balance. Dialysis may also be required if the creatinine levels are too high.
Prognosis of acute renal failure is good if treatment is provided early, renal function improves rapidly without any renal impairment. In some cases where the treatment has been given late or when treatment has been ineffective, mild to moderate kidney damage may persist.
Know More About Improve Kidney Function To Avoid Dialysis
Stage of progression | Description |
Diminished renal reserve |
|
Renal Insufficiency
A protein-restricted diet is advised as the body has difficulty in removing end-products of protein metabolism, |
|
Renal Failure |
|
End Stage Renal Diseases
This is the final stage of kidney failure of death.
Dialysis or renal transplant is necessary for survival. |
|
Know More about Kidney Function Tests
Failure to Eliminate Nitrogenous Waste Results In
Cardiovascular Disorders – Left ventricular hypertrophy, pericarditis, and hypertension.
Gastro-Intestinal Tract (GIT) Disorders – Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, metallic taste in mouth, hiccups and bleeding and ulceration of GIT mucosa.
Neurological Disorders – Peripheral neuropathy, restless leg syndrome, burning sensation of feet as a feature of uremia. In severe cases, uremic encephalopathy may occur with features of seizures, delirium and comas.
Skin Disorders – Pallor, bruising, skin dryness and itching from high serum phosphate levels. Nails become thin and brittle with a dark band followed by a light band at the edge. This is called Terry’s nails.
Sexual Dysfunction – From high levels of urea and neuropathy. Impotence and loss of libido in males. In women, infertility and menstrual abnormalities are seen.
The rate by which kidney function deteriorates is different for different patients. To treat CKD effectively, identifying the underlying cause is important. Identify reversible factors which make renal function worse like diet, medications and renal outflow obstruction and treat accordingly.
In final kidney failure stages of death, medications and measures are taken to prevent further damage of kidneys and to limit adverse reactions of kidney failure on the body. Dialysis and transplant are suggested when there are severe uremia and electrolyte imbalance.
Dr. Himanshi is a Homoeopathic consultant and currently working as a lecturer in Post-graduate faculty of Homeopathy, Parul University, Vadodara. Completed BHMS and MD in Homeopathy in January 2018 and also has a clinical experience of about 6 years. Personal interests include reading, spending time with family and traveling.
Walking pneumonia, also known as atypical pneumonia, is a milder form of pneumonia that, while…
Internal bleeding is a medical condition where blood escapes from damaged blood vessels and accumulates…
Serotonin, commonly referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in regulating mood,…
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are two neurodevelopmental conditions that, while distinct,…
The year 2024 has seen a significant Listeria outbreak, raising alarms across several countries. Listeria…
Metabolic conditioning (MetCon) has gained significant attention in the fitness world, often hailed as a…