|
HomeTopicsKidney FailureRenal Failure Symptoms
Acute & Chronic Renal Failure SymptomsSymptoms of kidney failure depend on whether the disease is acute or chronic. The sudden decrease of kidney function associated with acute renal failure (ARF) is accompanied by the rapid development of symptoms. Chronic renal failure (CRF) describes a gradual deterioration of kidney function, and symptoms often become apparent only after irreversible damage has occurred.
Chronic renal failure is characterized by a gradual decrease in organ function. CRF is often caused by other medical conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes. CRF symptoms do not occur until the late stages of the disease, when kidney function has been reduced to as little as 25 percent. CRF is a common disease. The National Kidney Foundation reports that over twenty million Americans live with CRF, and that an additional twenty million are at risk of developing the disease.
Nephrotic SyndromeBoth ARF and CRF can cause nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome is a condition characterized by excessive amounts of protein in the urine and low levels of protein in the blood. It is the result of damage to the glomerulus, the tiny blood vessels that filter excess water and waste from the blood and allow them to be excreted as urine.
As excessive amounts of protein are lost in the urine, the levels of protein in the blood begin to diminish. A lack of protein in the blood allows fluid to leak out of the blood stream and into surrounding tissue, causing edema.
Symptoms of nephrotic syndrome include swelling in the legs. The tissues under the eyes may appear swollen upon awakening, and other areas of the body may also swell. Nephrotic syndrome can also lead to unusual urine "foaming" during excretion, due to high levels of protein.
Acute Renal Failure SymptomsARF is often the result of a sudden injury, surgical complications or a similar traumatic event. Symptoms tend to appear quickly, and can be very serious. Signs of ARF include the following:
Chronic Renal Failure SymptomsCRF symptoms appear only after kidney function has been greatly reduced. The first indication of the disease may be when routine blood or urine tests produce abnormal results. Often the first signs of CRF are feelings of malaise and fatigue, which can easily be dismissed as "just feeling down."
Initial signs of CRF can also include sudden weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. Headaches with no apparent cause can occur, as can frequent hiccupping. Generalized itching (pruritus) is also common and is caused by the build-up of uric acid. Itching can become very uncomfortable as the disease progresses. Advanced cases of CRF develop more serious symptoms:
End-Stage Renal DiseaseOnce kidney function drops to less than 10percent, the kidneys can no longer process wastes effectively enough to maintain life. The technical term for this stage of the disease is end stage renal disease, or ESRD. Dialysis or a kidney transplant is required. Every year, over 80,000 cases of ESRD are reported in the United States.
High Blood Pressure & Congestive Heart FailureFluid retention caused by renal failure often causes high blood pressure. Over eighty percent of people with CRF experience hypertension complications. In advanced cases of end stage renal disease, congestive heart failure may occur due to fluid retention.
Complications From Urine and Blood-Related SymptomsRenal failure can cause a number of urinary and blood-related complications. The terms used to refer to these conditions can be confusing to people outside of the medical profession. The glossary of medical terms below helps translate medical terms into easier-to-understand terminology:
Acidosis: Organic acids, phosphates and sulfates build up in the bloodstream causing a drop in pH. Signs of acidosis include sweet, sickly breath, headaches, visual disturbances, nausea, and vomiting. Anemia: A lack of erythropoietin — a hormone produced in the kidneys — can cause anemia. Anemia occurs when red blood cells fall below normal levels in the bloodstream. Erythropoietin normally stimulates the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Nocturia: Frequent nighttime urination that can disturb the sleep cycle. Oliguria: The body loses the ability to dilute urine. People with oliguria may urinate as little as 400 ml a day (1/2 to 1/5 the normal volume), and the urine is unusually concentrated. Hyperkalemia: Refers to high levels of potassium in the bloodstream. Hyperkalemia can result in a number of heart problems. Hypocalcemia: A condition in which low levels of vitamin D (normally activated by the kidneys) in the blood lead to low calcium levels. Hypocalcemia can cause osteodystrophy, a condition that mimics osteoporosis. Urea: One of the chemical components of urine, urea is the by-product of protein decomposition and is the principal source of nitrogen removal from the body. Uremic Frost: Urea levels in sweat rise, resulting in urea crystals forming in the skin. Uremic frost can cause persistent, uncomfortable itching. Resources Beers, M. H., & Berkow, R. (ed). Acute renal failure. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th Edition. Merck Research Laboratories, NJ, 1999. Beers, M. H., & Berkow, R. (ed). Chronic renal failure. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th Edition. Merck Research Laboratories, NJ, 1999. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (updated 2002). Acute renal failure. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (updated 2003). Chronic renal failure. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
|
|
