Can chronic renal failure be cured?

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 18, 2024
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Chronic kidney failure is irreversible and incurable, with no possibility of kidney function recovery. There are many causes of chronic kidney failure, commonly including diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, chronic nephritis, polycystic kidney disease, etc. These causes affect the kidneys over the long term, resulting in extensive damage to kidney tissues. Since kidney tissues cannot regenerate, chronic kidney failure is incurable and irreversible. Patients with chronic kidney failure still require treatment to control the underlying causes leading to the condition, aiming to slow down the progression of the disease as much as possible, prolong the patient’s life, and ensure the quality of life. This is the primary goal of treatment.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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What should I do about edema from chronic renal failure?

Chronic renal failure often leads to edema, which is a common symptom associated with the decreased ability of the kidneys to excrete water, resulting in significant water retention in the body. There are two treatment options for this disease. First, medication can be used, typically diuretics such as loop diuretics. After administration, the patient's urine output increases, which can help reduce edema. Second, for patients who do not respond well to medication, and in cases where edema leads to heart failure or pulmonary edema, dialysis treatment may be considered. Through dialysis ultrafiltration and dehydration, edema can also be alleviated.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Chronic Kidney Failure Various Indicators

In patients with chronic kidney failure, the primary indicator to observe is obviously kidney function. It is essential to regularly monitor the patient's blood creatinine and urea nitrogen levels, which are generally required to be tested every 1 to 3 months when chronic kidney failure is stable. Additionally, urine output should be monitored. If there is a decrease in urine output and swelling occurs, it may indicate that the patient's kidney function is continuously deteriorating. A complete blood count should also be checked to observe changes in the patient's anemia status. Chronic kidney failure often causes hypertension, so blood pressure monitoring is also necessary for these patients. Electrolyte monitoring is important as kidney failure can lead to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and subsequent secondary hyperparathyroidism. Therefore, the levels of calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone also need to be tested.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Is stage five chronic kidney failure serious?

Strictly speaking, there is no condition called "chronic renal failure stage five," but there is a term "chronic kidney disease stage five." Chronic kidney disease is divided into five stages based on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Stage five chronic kidney disease indicates that the patient's GFR is less than 15 milliliters per minute, which is about 15% of normal kidney function and is essentially equivalent to uremia. Therefore, chronic renal failure or chronic kidney disease stage five is very dangerous and can cause many complications. Moreover, this type of kidney failure is irreversible and incurable, and the patient may need to undergo dialysis or a kidney transplant.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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What are the symptoms of chronic kidney failure?

The symptoms of chronic kidney failure are related to the severity of the condition; the more severe the kidney failure, the more symptoms the patient will have. In the early stages, patients may not feel uncomfortable or show any symptoms. Some patients may experience swelling in the lower limbs and facial area. Others may display clinical signs such as elevated blood pressure and visible blood in the urine. As kidney failure progresses and blood creatinine levels exceed 442 umol/L, patients may experience fatigue, which is due to renal anemia. Some patients may also experience a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Does chronic renal failure require dialysis?

Not all cases of chronic renal failure require dialysis. It is only considered when chronic renal failure progresses to an advanced stage, causing severe consequences, and the kidneys are unable to maintain normal body functions, leading to many complications. Generally, when chronic renal failure progresses to its final stage, i.e., uremia, the kidney function is left with about 10% capacity. The body then experiences a disruption in its internal environment, including the accumulation of a large amount of metabolic waste, serious electrolyte disorders, and severe metabolic acidosis. It is at this point that dialysis is considered. In the early stages of chronic renal failure, dialysis is not necessary.