Chronic Kidney Failure, Thesis Paper Example

Overview of the disease

Kidney failure is the reason for thousands of deaths every year. Kidney is a critical organ for the human organism, acting as a filter for all of the fluids in our organism. This organ processes around 200 liters of blood each day and produces about 2 liters of urine. The waste may the leave the body without causing any harm. The waste products are generated from the regular metabolic processes, such as ingested food, breakdown of active tissues and a number of other substances. Generally, the main functions of the kidneys can be presented this way:

• Getting rid of excess water and waste products
• Control blood pressure
• Control the hormones that make new red blood cells
• Adjust fluids and chemicals needed by the body.
• Maintain blood in normal, non-acid state
• Keep calcium and potassium in balance in order for the bones to stay healthy

When the kidneys fail to perform the functions stated above, the state is called kidney failure. There are two types of renal malfunctions: acute and chronic ones. Acute kidney failure may be caused by poisoning or trauma and is generally treatable. Chronic malfunction is much more serious, as it is developing over months and years, being in a passive form, when it is hard to identify the problem. Chronic Kidney Failure (CKF) is also often called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and is progressive loss of the renal function over long periods of time.

It is rather hard to detect CKD on its early stages, as the symptoms are unspecific and may relate to a number of other, less serious diseases. Usually this illness is identified via blood test, which shows higher level of creatinine. However, on the very early stages creatinine tests are useless and urine tests might be demonstrative, showing protein and red blood cells in the urine, which are the signs of the kidneys failing to work normally.

Scientists distinguish 5 stages of the disease, which are determined by GFR – Glomerular Filtration rate. This rate demonstrates how many milliliters of liquid a minute the kidneys are capable of processing. A figure of around 100 milliliters is normal for a regular person. Everything below can be a sign of kidney malfunctions. The stages of CKD are listed in a table below: (eMedicinehealth.com)

Causes for Chronic Kidney Disease

There is a number of reasons that may lead to CKD. Sometimes it is the kidney illness itself, but as practice shows, this is not the number one cause for the renal failure. The list of most popular reasons is presented below (eMedicinehealth.com):

1. Diabetes (type 1 and 2)
2. High blood pressure can damage kidneys after some time
3. Use of analgesics, for example Tylenol and ibuprofen
4. Clogging of the arteries
5. Kidney stones may obstruct the flow of urine and damage kidneys
6. HIV
7. Amyloidosis
8. Heroin abuse
9. Some types of cancers

Diabetes and high pressure, however, account for over 60% of all the recorded CKD cases. In some regions, where HIV more widespread, this infection is also responsible for a significant share of the kidney failures (Flieger, K. 1990). A significant number of Americans are in the risk group, without even being aware of it. For a regular adult, blood pressure over 140/90 is considered unhealthy, for a person over 65 160/90 is the margin, and for kids any pressure over 130/80 is a sign of problems. Few people are aware of it and constantly monitor their state. About 58 million Americans are periodically taking drugs that increase the blood pressure as a side effect (USA Today, 1994).

CKD symptoms

Symptoms of CKD tend to develop relatively slowly. People on the early stages may not experience any inconveniences at all. As disease progresses only mild signs might appear, such as need to urinate several times a night. This happens because kidneys are not able of absorbing the water inside the organism and most of it is generated overnight.

Later on, a person sick with CKD might feel general weakness and become less alert mentally. Shortness of breath and frequent loss of appetite can be observed. Metabolic waste inside the organism keeps building up, that can cause vomiting and unpleasant taste in the mouth, which may eventually lead to serious undernutrition and consequently wright loss. Immune system starts suffering and the body deals with infections slower than regularly.

Continuous growth of metabolic waste inside the organism muscles and nerves start being damaged. Pains in arms in legs appear and some parts of the body loose sensation. On the very late stages urine is not absorbed and processed at all, as a result the skin turns yellowish or even brown in the extreme cases. Urine crystallizes from sweat, forming powder on skin.

Treatment

Kidney failure seldom develops as a separate disease and is usually caused by some other health problems. Depending on the reason that has lead to CKD, treatment may wary. The very basic measures include:

• Constantly monitoring and controlling blood pressure
• Controlling diabetes
• Using strict diet that prohibits salt, potassium and phosphorus
• Treat possible heart failure and anemia
• Using medications to control the level of potassium, cholesterol
• Dialysis (artificial filtration of blood)

Sometimes, any intake of fluids except for the necessary amount may be needed to reduce the pressure on the kidneys.  Any food that have salt, potassium or phosphorus are to be strictly excluded. Vitamin D might be taken to reduce the level of hormones in the organism.

As it can be seen, there is no treatment that simply removes the problem. In case the kidneys malfunction seriously, the damage done is usually irreversible. The only solution is to slow down the progress of the disease by reducing the pressure on the kidneys. An original disease that has lead to kidney malfunction is to be identified and dealt with. This is often problematic, as a number of drugs are excreted by kidneys and in case of CKD the organ will fail to do so.

On the last stage of the disease kidneys virtually stop operating and the organism is accumulating waste very fast. Dialysis might be a solution, but only a temporary one. Otherwise, a transplant surgery is required.

Works cited

“High Blood Pressure Can Trigger Kidney Failure” USA Today. Vol. 123, October 1994. Accessed June 6, 2009 at: http://www.questia.com/read/5002211642title=High%20Blood%20Pressure%20Can%20Trigger%20Kidney%20Failure

Flieger, K. “Kidney Disease: When Those Fabulous Filters Are Foiled” FDA Consumer. Vol. 24, March 1990. Accessed June 6, 2009 at: http://www.questia.com/read/5002156422title=Kidney%20Disease%3a%20When%20Those%20Fabulous%20Filters%20Are%20Foiled

“Chronic Kidney Disease overview” – eMedicinehealth.com website. Accessed June 6, 2009 at: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/chronic_kidney_disease/article_em.htm

“Chronic Kidney Failure: – Merck Manual. Accessed June 6, 2009 at: http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec11/ch143/ch143c.html