Define Renal Failure

Kidney (renal) failure is a decrease in the function of the kidneys. The normal function of the kidneys is to cleanse the blood of waste products by producing urine. When the filtering process of the kidney is blocked, either because of an indirect blockage (like a kidney stone) or direct kidney destruction, (like diabetes), the result can cause renal failure.

Facts

• According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million American adults have chronic renal failure and millions of others are at increased risks. Chronic renal failure causes hypertension and hypertension causes chronic renal failure. Among those at higher risks for getting renal failure are diabetes sufferers and those with a family history of renal disease.

  The major cause of death for all people with chronic renal failure is heart disease. However, early detection of renal dysfunction can prevent the development of renal disease causing renal failure.

Types

• The two main types of kidney (renal) failure are acute renal failure and chronic renal failure. Acute renal failure is the sudden inability of the kidneys to remove wastes and concentrate urine without losing electrolytes.

  Chronic renal failure is when acute renal failure slowly worsens and the kidneys lose the ability to conserve electrolytes. Because of the gradual loss of kidney function, chronic renal failure can lead to end-stage-renal-disease (ESRD), when the kidneys can no longer regulate electrolytes, concentrate urine and remove wastes.

Causes

• Acute renal failure can have many possible causes. Disorders causing clotting within the blood vessels of the kidneys, complications in pregnancy (placenta abruption or placenta previa), and acute pyelonephritis and septicemia (infections that may directly injure the kidney) are some possible causes of acute renal failure.

  Low blood pressure resulting in decreased blood flow, acute tubular necrosis, and autoimmune kidney diseases such as interstitial nephritis or acute nephritic syndrome are also possible causes of acute renal failure.

  Causes of chronic renal failure can include, reflux nephropathy, obstructive uropathy, kidney stones and infection, glomerulonephritis (one of the most common causes), alport syndrome and analgesic nephropathy.

  According to the National Library of Medicine, in the United States end stage renal disease is also most commonly caused by diabetes.

Symptoms

• Depending on the severity of the renal failure, the underlying cause and rate of progression, symptoms may vary. In acute renal failure symptoms include internal bleeding, seizures, coma, confusion and fluid retention.

  In chronic renal failure symptoms may not be present until normal kidney function declines to less than 20 percent. Symptoms of chronic renal failure can include nausea, fatigue, chest pains and shortness of breath, weight loss and anemia, bleeding in the intestinal tract, vomiting, headaches and decreased urine output.

Treatment

• In renal failure, treatment is needed to replace the work of the kidneys. Dialysis treatments are the main treatment methods used to clean the blood, when the kidneys are not functioning properly.

  The two main types of dialysis treatments are peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis. Both treatments filter your blood to get rid of extra salt, water and harmful wastes in your body. Peritoneal dialysis uses the peritoneal membrane (lining of the abdomen) to filter the blood. Hemodialysis filters the blood with a machine. Each type has benefits and risks as well as requirements to follow a special diet.