Is stage five chronic kidney failure serious?

Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

Updated on September 08, 2024

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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 Wu Ji

Nephrology

1min 22sec

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Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Failure

The clinical symptoms of chronic renal failure mainly include symptoms related to disturbances in electrolyte and acid-base balance, as well as symptoms of metabolic disorders of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins. There are also manifestations in various organ systems, including the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, hematologic system, neuromuscular system, endocrine system, and bone lesions. Metabolic acidosis is common; patients may also exhibit water and sodium retention or hypovolemia and hyponatremia. Potassium metabolism disorders are often characterized by hyperkalemia, while disturbances in phosphorus and calcium metabolism are mainly manifested as hyperphosphatemia and calcium deficiency. Patients may also show cardiovascular manifestations, primarily hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and uremic cardiomyopathy. Gastrointestinal symptoms in patients may include loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Additionally, renal anemia and a tendency to bleed are common, and skeletal changes are quite frequent, leading to malnutrition of bones, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis.

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Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

41sec

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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 Zhang Hui

Nephrology

44sec

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Chronic Renal Failure Clinical Manifestations

Patients with chronic renal failure may exhibit fatigue, which is mainly due to anemia. Patients with stage three or higher chronic renal failure generally have anemia, which can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, and pallor. Additionally, patients may experience nausea and vomiting, which are primarily caused by an increase in toxins. Furthermore, patients may also exhibit symptoms such as edema and shortness of breath, as individuals with chronic renal failure typically experience reduced urine output. A higher intake than output over time can lead to an increased circulating blood volume, resulting in heart failure.

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Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

59sec

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Chronic Renal Failure Treatment Plan

The treatment of chronic renal failure primarily requires a clear understanding of the cause, and treatment targeting the cause is essential to slow the progression of chronic renal failure. The most common causes of chronic renal failure are diabetes, hypertension, and chronic nephritis. Therefore, for patients with chronic renal failure caused by diabetes, insulin is often needed to control blood sugar. For patients with hypertensive kidney disease, antihypertensive drugs are certainly necessary to control blood pressure. However, in the early stages of renal failure, ACE inhibitors or ARBs are the preferred choices. For patients with chronic nephritis in the early stages, corticosteroid medications are required for treatment. However, if the serum creatinine has already exceeded 256 micromoles per liter, treatment then focuses mainly on managing complications, and corticosteroids are no longer used. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wang Fei Long

Nephrology

38sec

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Chronic Renal Failure Replacement Therapy

Chronic kidney failure is the irreversible loss of nephron units and kidney function caused by the progressive progression of chronic kidney disease, leading to a clinical syndrome characterized by the retention of metabolic products and toxins, disturbances in electrolyte and acid-base balance, and endocrine disorders. Chronic kidney failure often progresses to end-stage kidney disease, and the late stage of chronic kidney failure is called the uremic stage. After entering the uremic stage, renal replacement therapy is often required, with the main methods being hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation.