Chronic renal failure, also known as chronic kidney disease or chronic renal insufficiency, is diagnosed in more than 100,000 Americans every year, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The condition is characterized by a gradual decline of kidney function over many months or years and is caused by diseases or disorders that damage the kidneys, including diabetes, high blood pressure, some pain medications and some types of cancer. Symptoms may not occur until the kidneys are severely damaged. Left untreated, chronic renal failure can have severe, life-threatening consequences.
End-Stage Renal Failure
Chronic renal failure has no cure. Treatments can ease the symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. But in most cases the disease progresses to end-stage renal failure, also known as end-stage renal disease. This stage of the disease is typically characterized by renal function that is 10 to 15 percent of normal function. At this point, the kidney are no longer able to sufficiently filter toxins out of the blood. Patients with end-stage renal disease must be treated with dialysis, a blood-filtering process. Kidney transplantation is another option if a suitable donor can be found.
Anemia
Anemia is another consequence of chronic renal failure. The kidneys are responsible for producing a hormone called erythropoietin, which stimulates the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. As kidney function declines, so does the production of erythropoietin, meaning fewer red blood cells are made, which leads to anemia. This reduction can cause many other complications, such as the inability of the blood to carry sufficient oxygen to the rest of the body.
Heart Disease
Because the kidneys are unable to properly filter blood in patients with chronic renal failure, one consequence is a build-up of sodium levels in the blood. The excess sodium can lead to congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, stroke and pericarditis, which occurs when the outer covering of the heart becomes inflamed. Restriction of sodium in the diet, dialysis or a kidney transplant can all help to prevent or lessen heart disease in patients with chronic renal failure.
Other Consequences
Chronic renal failure can result in other serious complications, including dementia, malnutrition, liver damage, fluid accumulation in the lungs and seizure. The condition may also cause general joint, muscle and bone pain and may lead to a weakening of the bones, increasing the risk of fracture.
