Common Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Failure

Many people who have chronic kidney disease don't know it because the early signs can be very subtle. It can take many years to go from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to kidney failure. Most people with CKD live out their lives without ever reaching kidney failure. People with stage 3 CKD have about an 80% chance of never having their kidneys fail.

Patients with CKD stages 1-3 (GFR >30 mL/min/1.73 m²) are generally asymptomatic. Typically, it is not until stages 4-5 (GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m²) that endocrine/metabolic derangements or disturbances in water or electrolyte balance become clinically manifest.

Signs of metabolic acidosis in stage 5 CKD include the following:

Protein-energy malnutrition

Loss of lean body mass

Muscle weakness

Signs of alterations in the way the kidneys are handling salt and water in stage 5 include the following:

Peripheral edema

Pulmonary edema

Hypertension

Anemia in CKD is associated with the following:

Fatigue

Reduced exercise capacity

Impaired cognitive and immune function

Reduced quality of life

Development of cardiovascular disease

New onset of heart failure or the development of more severe heart failure

Increased cardiovascular mortality

The above are the common symptoms of chronic kidney failure. Aside from them, some patients may suffer from some other uncommon discomforts. If you are a kidney failure patient and is bothering by an abnormal condition, please feel free to leave your illness condition here and we will help to fight out if this symptom is related with your kidney problem and then offer you some practical suggestions.