Chronic renal failure is a progressive worsening of kidney function over a long period of time. It can be caused by diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, lupus erythematosus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and a form of cancer called myeloma. If diagnosed early on the degenerative process can be slowed, but not reversed, by interventions that can range from simply restricting fluid intake and protein consumption (proteins are the main source of waste products) to taking drugs to address the underlying disease that is damaging the kidneys. Some patients may go on to develop end-stage renal failure, a life-threatening condition that requires long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant. It is a gradual and progressive loss of the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes.
There are a lot of causes of chronic renal failure, including inflammatory conditions affecting the kidney tissue, as a difficulty of venerable diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), chronic obstruction to the drainage of the kidneys and as a result of certain inherited conditions such as polycystic kidney disease. Often, the cause has occurred many years earlier and cannot be identified. The harm to the kidneys is usually 'silent' and not noticed at an early stage. It may be discovered incidentally from blood or urine tests done for other reasons. High blood pressure very normally occurs with it. Symptoms are unusual unless kidney failure is far advanced, when any of the following may be present: tiredness, itching, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, breathlessness, fluid retention, shown as ankle swelling (oedema) and weakness. (Margaret Nusser (2005)
Chronic kidney damage is typically not reversible and if widespread, the kidneys may ultimately fail completely. Dialysis or kidney transplantation will then become necessary.......
