End-stage renal disease is also known as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), specifically the fifth stage CKD

ESRD occurs when the kidneys stop working well enough for a patient to live without dialysis or a transplant. It is permanent. It cannot be fixed

Most cases of ESRD are cause by diabetes or high blood pressure. Some problems you are born with, some reactions to medicines, and some injuries can also cause ESRD.

 ESRD is a progressive and irreversible deterioration in renal function in which the bodys ability to maintain metabolic and fluid and electrolyte balance fails, resulting in retention of urea and other nitrogenous wastes in the blood.

Diabetes mellitus may cause ESRD. Other causes may be hypertension, chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, obstruction of the urinary tract, heredity, as in polycystic kidney disease, vascular disorders, infections, medications, or toxic agents.

Anyone can have ESRD. Some people are more likely to have ESRD than others. You are more at risk for ESRD if you have: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) Injury or trauma to the kidneys Major blood loss

Signs and Symptoms

Poor appetite high urine output or no urine output vomiting recurrent urinary tract bone pain infections headache urinary incontinence insomnia pale skin itching bad breath dry skin hearing deficit malaise fatigue with light activity detectable abdominal mass tissue swelling muscle cramps irritability poor muscle tone change in mental alertness metallic taste in mouth

As renal function declines, the end products of protein metabolism accumulate in the blood. Uremia develops and adversely affects every system in the body. The greater the buildup of waste products, the more severe the symptoms. ESRD occurs when there is less than 10% nephron function remaining. All of the normal regulatory, excretory, and hormonal functions of the kidney are severely impaired. The rate of decline in renal function and progression of chronic renal failure is related to the underlying disorder, the urinary excretion of protein, and the presence of hypertension. The disease tends to progress more rapidly in patients who excrete significant amounts of protein or have elevated blood pressure than in those without these conditions.

Two types of kidney failure: Acute and Chronic Acute Kidney Failure is a temporary decline in kidney function that can most often be corrected. Chronic kidney failure, on the other hand, is a permanent condition, meaning that once it occurs, the kidneys cannot be made to function again. Chronic kidney failure may be the result of heredity, as with polycystic kidney disease, or may be caused by prolonged medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Persons with chronic renal failure are referred to as having end-stage renal disease. The term indicates that the patient must rely on some type of medical treatment to help replace the loss of kidney function.