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Cures for End Stage Kidney Disease

As the name implies, end-stage kidney disease is a condition in which the kidneys can no longer function and begin to shut down. The only options for treating end-stage kidney disease are frequent dialysis or a kidney transplant.

  1. What Causes End-Stage Kidney Disease

    • People stricken with end-stage kidney disease, also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), usually suffer from chronic kidney failure for years. ESRD is typically diagnosed when kidneys fall below what is considered 10% of normal function and are no longer able to remove wastes from the body, process urine and regulate electrolytes. ESRD is usually a complication of kidney disease or conditions like congestive heart failure or diabetes that reduce the flow of blood to the kidneys and cause them to slowly degenerate. A person can have chronic kidney failure for up to 20 years before it progresses to ESRD, and once it reaches that point, there are few viable options.

    Dialysis

    • Dialysis is a treatment regime in which a dialysis machine does the job the kidneys can no longer do. Patients are hooked up to a dialysis machine with an IV that siphons out blood, passes it through a filter and returns it through a second tube. People with ESRD typically need dialysis three times a week for several hours at a time to keep wastes and other byproducts from accumulating in the bloodstream. People on dialysis also need to limit their intake of foods with salt, potassium and phosphorus, which are difficult for the kidneys to process, and eat a diet low in proteins and high in carbohydrates. Changes in diet are helpful for people with ESRD but are not a substitute for dialysis.

    Kidney Transplant

    • Many people with ESRD eventually undergo a kidney transplant in which one kidney from a donor replaces both of their kidneys. The ideal donor is a sibling or close family member whose kidney is less likely to be rejected by the recipient. Kidneys can also be donated by someone outside the family or, in many cases, a donor who is recently deceased. People receiving kidney transplants need to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their life and are usually able to resume normal activities after several months of recovery. The downside is that transplanted kidneys tend to last only 5 to 10 years but many people see it as better option than dialysis and can plan ahead for a second kidney by getting on a waiting list.

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