Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to adequately remove waste from your blood and control the level of fluid in the body. Kidney failure can happen suddenly or gradually. People with kidney failure need dialysis or a transplant to stay alive.
The kidneys are 2 bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are found in the back on either side of the spine. Healthy kidneys clean waste products from the blood by making urine. They also balance the amount of certain elements in the blood (such as sodium, potassium, and calcium), and make hormones that control blood pressure and red blood cells.
If the kidney function fails, the waste products accumulate in the blood and the body. The term for this build-up is azotaemia. Very mild levels of azotaemia may give little or no symptoms, but if the kidney failure continues then symptoms will start to appear. If the kidney (or renal) failure is of sufficient degree to cause symptoms, it is called uraemia.
Causes
Kidney failure can happen rapidly – over days, weeks or months (acute renal failure) or slowly over a period of years (chronic renal failure).
Acute renal failure – This may occur with any serious illness or operation, particularly those complicated by severe infection. Acute kidney injury is common affecting about 20 per cent of those admitted to hospital with acute conditions. If the blood supply to the kidneys is reduced considerably from blood loss, a fall in blood pressure, severe dehydration or lack of salt, then the kidneys may be damaged. If this problem lasts long enough there can be permanent damage to the kidney tissue.
Sudden blockage to the drainage of urine from the kidney can cause damage. A kidney stone is a possible cause of this. Acute kidney damage can occur as a rare side effect of some medications and other rare conditions. Acute kidney damage can occur as a rare side effect of some medications and other rare conditions.
Chronic renal failure – There are many causes of chronic renal failure, including inflammatory conditions affecting the kidney tissue, as a complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), chronic blockage to the drainage of the kidneys and as a result of certain inherited conditions such as polycystic kidney disease.
Often, the cause has occurred many years earlier and cannot be identified. Renal failure can happen rapidly – over days, weeks or months (acute renal failure) or slowly over a period of years (chronic renal failure).
Other conditions that affect the kidneys are –
- Glomerulonephritis, a group of diseases that cause inflammation and damage to the kidney’s filtering units. These disorders are the third most common type of kidney disease.
- Inherited diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease, which causes large cysts to form in the kidneys and damage the surrounding tissue.
- Malformations that occur as a baby develops in its mother’s womb. For example, a narrowing may occur that prevents normal outflow of urine and causes urine to flow back up to the kidney. This causes infections and may damage the kidneys.
- Lupus and other diseases that affect the body’s immune system.
- Obstructions caused by problems like kidney stones, tumors or an enlarged prostate gland in men.
- Repeated urinary infections.
Risk Factors
Conditions that can increase your risk of acute kidney failure include –
- Being hospitalized, especially for a serious condition that requires intensive care
- Advanced age
- Blockages in the blood vessels in your arms or legs (peripheral artery disease)
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Kidney diseases
- Liver diseases
Symptoms
Acute renal failure – Here the symptoms are largely those of the condition causing the acute kidney injury (AKI), such as: –
- blood loss, causing a drop in blood pressure
- vomiting and diarrhoea, causing dehydration
- crush injuries. If large amounts of muscle are damaged there is a release of toxic protein substances that are harmful to the kidneys
- sudden blockage of urine drainage.
Chronic Kidneyfailure – The damage to the kidneys is usually ‘silent’ and not noticed at an early stage. It may be discovered incidentally from blood or urine tests done for other reasons. High blood pressure very commonly occurs with it.
Symptoms are uncommon unless kidney failure is far advanced, when any of the following may be present –
- tiredness
- itching
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- breathlessness
- fluid retention, shown as ankle swelling (oedema)
Complications
- Fluid buildup – kidney failure may lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath.
- Chest pain – If the lining that covers the heart (pericardium) becomes inflamed, somemay experience chest pain.
- Muscle weakness – When the body’s fluids and electrolytes — the body’s blood chemistry — are out of balance, muscle weakness can result. Elevated levels of potassium in the blood are particularly dangerous.
- Permanent kidney damage – Occasionally, acute kidney failure causes permanent loss of kidney function, or end-stage renal disease. People with end-stage renal disease require either permanent dialysis — a mechanical filtration process used to remove toxins and wastes from the body — or a kidney transplant to survive.
- Death – Acute kidney failure can lead to loss of kidney function and, ultimately, death. The risk of death is higher in people who had kidney problems before kidney failure.
Treatment
Treatment options vary widely and depend on the cause of kidney failure, but most require a hospital stay. Options are sorted into two groups: treating the cause of renal failure versus replacing the renal function. They include –
- Interventional radiology procedures such as ureteral stenting and nephrostomy: This procedure involves inserting either small stents into the ureter(s) or a tube connected to an external drainage bag. Both options are used to unblock the ureters in order to allow proper urine flow from the kidneys if this has been identified as the cause for the renal failure.
- Surgical treatment such as a urinary stent or kidney stone removal.
- Dialysis, including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis: These procedures remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood and therefore replace (some) renal functions. Kidney transplant is the most complete and effective way to replace kidney function but may not be suitable for all patients.
Alternative Treatment
Biodetoxification Prgramme – Safe, intensive treatment for the reduction of the body’s burden of toxic chemicals. Biodetoxification Program utilizes clinical procedures that safely reduce the body’s burden of toxic chemicals, including chemicals stored following occupational, accidental, and/or chronic airborne exposures. Chemicals bind to human tissues on the basis of their lipophilic properties — meaning literally “attracted to fats.” When our bodies absorb lipophilic toxins, they are deposited in the fat stores and released whenever those fatty tissues are broken down to provide energy. Thus, although a patient may initially be poisoned by an extrinsic (outside) source of toxicants, the patient may continue to be poisoned over a prolonged period of time by our own intrinsic (inside) body stores of those poisons.
Fish Oils – Fish oils affect the progression of CKD. In one meta-analysis some studies indicate a negative effect on the progression of CKD
Vitamin and mineral supplements – Replacement of certain vitamins and minerals that that the patient does not get in the diet or that are lost during dialysis.
Avoiding IV Dye – Avoiding X-ray tests that require IV dye (contrast material), such as an angiogram, an intravenous pyelogram (IVP), and some CT scans. IV dye can cause more kidney damage.
Diet – This may include – Avoid products with added salt, lower potassium foods, limited amount of protein in the diet.
Chinese Herbal Medicine – Acupuncture, Lei Gong Teng, Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy are the natural alternative treatments for kidney failure which is used externally.
Ayurveda – Gokshura and Mutrakrichantak Churna which contains herbs like Punarnava, Varuna, Shigru, Apamarg etc. maintain effective kidney functioning by promoting proper urination, reducing kidney discomforts and removing stones and helps to reduce accompanying fluid accumulation and kidney tissue inflammation.
Herbal treatment – Cornsilk, dandelion, astragalus, basil etc. helps to cleanse and strengthen the kidney.
Reference –
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/kidneydisease/whatiskidneydisease/01.html
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/kidney-failure
https://www.davita.com/kidney-disease/causes
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-kidney-disease-basic-information
http://lifeoptions.org/kidneyinfo/ckdinfo.php?page=3
http://www.news-medical.net/health/Renal-Failure-Kidney-Failure.aspx
http://www.kidney.ca/kidney-disease
http://www.medicinenet.com/kidney_failure/article.htm
http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/kidney-failure/?referrer=https://www.google.co.in/
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneyfailure.html