Renal Disease

Renal disease refers to temporary or permanent damage to the kidneys that result in loss of normal kidney function. Renal failure can be a progressive disease or a temporary one depending on the cause and available treatment options. In renal failure the kidneys undergo cellular death and are unable to filter wastes, produce urine and maintain fluid balances of the body. This causes a build up of toxins in the body which can affect the blood, brain and heart, as well as other complications. Renal failure is very serious and can be deadly if left untreated.

There are two types of renal failure: acute and chronic.

Acute Renal Failure
Acute renal failure occurs suddenly and is usually initiated by underlying causes, for example dehydration, infection, serious injury to the kidney or the chronic use of over the counter pain medications. Acute renal failure is often reversible with no lasting damage. In such situation, renal function may be restored by treating the primary disease that is responsible for the damage, or by treating the kidneys with medication.

Chronic Renal Failure
In chronic renal failure, patients may not show any symptoms until the kidneys are extremely damaged. Chronic renal failure can be caused by other long term diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. It can worsen over time, especially when the problem has gone undiagnosed and treatment is delayed. With treatment, a person with kidney failure can live a relatively normal life. In cases of patients with end stage renal disease, patient will require dialysis and/or a kidney transplant. However, for a kidney transplant, it is necessary to find a donor that has a similar tissue and blood type, which means that finding a kidney may still be difficult. Most people who need a kidney transplant must also be on dialysis until a match is found.

In renal dialysis, the patient must be connected to a machine that mechanically filters off toxins and waste materials from the body. Dialysis does not treat renal failure, but instead keeps a person alive by performing the crucial functions of the kidneys. A person may have to undergo dialysis as often as several times a day or as little as weekly, depending on the severity of the renal failure. A person with acute, reversible renal failure may need dialysis while the kidneys recover.