Kidney Failure Cause Symptom Treatment

Kidney failure is also known as end stage kidney disease.

It occurs when kidney is no longer able to filter waste product from blood & not able to perform other function such as urine formation, maintain level of fluid.

Kidney failure can arise suddenly or gradually, patient need an transplant and dialysis to sustain kidney function.

Kidney failure occurs in 2 ways,

• Acute kidney failure 

Acute kidney failure refers as sudden decrease in function of kidney.

• Chronic kidney failure 

Chronic kidney failure refer as long term failure of kidney function caused by infection, urinary disorders, cardiovascular diseases.

Kidney Failure Cause 

Most common causes of kidney failure are diabetic mellitus and high blood pressure. 

• Aged person

Person with advance age more than 65 year are more prone to kidney failure. It is due overaged, metabolism and decreased organ function.

• Infection (Sepsis)

Any infection (bacterial, viral) can lead to damage kidney function. Chronic infection can lead to inflammation, swellong and edema over glomerulus and nephron. It decrease permeability of capillaries decreasing kidney output.

• Gastrointestinal loss of frequent vomiting 

Sudden loss of fluid from the body occur via vomiting lead to hypovolemia. There is sudden decrease in kidney function lead to acute kidney failure.

• Trauma

Trauma or accident to lowere lower abdomen can injured kidney tissues. Damaged kidney is no ponger able to maitain function of blood filtration and excretion of waste product.

• Diuretic therapy

Overuse of diuretic therapy leads to loose high amount of fluid via urination. It increase load on kidney to filter excess fluid. Overuse of diuretic therapy lead to kidney failure.

• Iatrogenic effect

Iatrogenic effect is refer as side effects of medicines. Patient who is taking too much drugs impaired kidney function. 

• Ischemia (reduced blood supply to kidney)

When blood supply to kidney is decreased for long time, tissue hypoxia occur which kill tissue and cell of kidney. It result in oliguria and anuria.

• Decreased cardiac output 

Low cardiac ouptut to kidney causes less blood supply to kidney. Constant or long term low blood supply can alter kidney function.

• Severe blood transfusion reactions 

Blood transfusion reaction occurs in mismatched cases. It cause life threatening reaction. It can cause kidney failure.

Risk Factor

• Obesity

Obesity increases fluid volume and load on kidney. Overweight person has high risk factor for kidney failure.

• Alcoholic patient

High alcohol intake increase risk of kidney failure. Alcoholism increases fluid volume, induces sedation and decreased function of urinary system.

• Person undergone kidney surgery 

Person undergone kidney surgery has more risk for infection and kidney damage.

• Nephrotic syndrome 

Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by inflammation of nephron, proteinuria and edema formation. It decreases kidney function. It can cause kidney failure.

• Neuromuscular diseases
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Diabetic mellitus
• Hypertension

Symptoms 

Kidney failure result in following sign and symptoms:- 

• Oliguria 

Oiguria is define as decreased production of urine less than 400 ml per day. It occurs due to low kidney function.

• Hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is define as increase level of potassium in body. It can increases chances of kidney failure ans heart attack.

• Dehydration 

Dehydration is occur when excess fluid is gone out via urination due to abnormal kidney functions.

• Seizure 

Loss of kidney function for longer time lead to develop mild to moderate convulsion in patient. It occur as a result of electrolyte and fluid imbalance in body.

• Breathing difficulty 

Breathing difficulty occur in severe cases of kidney failure. 

• Behavioural change 

Behavioural changes include confusion, lack of concentration, poor memmory and irritation.

• Edema in legs 

In kidney failure, fluid start build up in leg called as edema in leg. 

• Anuria 

Anuria is defined as urine output less than 100 ml per day. It arises in severe kidney failure.

Other signs are,

• Dry skin
• Fatigue
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Tiredness 
• Low cognitive function
• Multiple organ failure 

Kidney failure Pathophysiology 

Kidney failure pathophysiology 

Primary causative factor alter function of kidney such as ischemia, infection, inflammation and swelling. It lead to decreased kidney function characterized by low kidney output, oliguria, dehydration and behavioural change in person. 

Due to improper kidney function, body start to store uremic waste product inside the body ex. Urea, creatinine and waste product. It results in dry skin, breathing difficulty and chest pain. If not treated it leads to kidney failure.

Diagnosis

Kidney failure is diagnosed by symptom such as oliguria, dehydration, edema, convulsion. 

• Blood count test

Blood count test is used to check normal blood volume and chemistry. It check function of filtration of kidney. 

• Urinalysis

Urine analysis is performed to check presence of alhumin, glucose, cell debris and blood cell in urine.

• Kidney biopsy 

Kidney biopsy involve removing sample of tissue fluid from kidney by a needle which then investigate for infection and other microbacterial agent.

• MRI & CT Scan 

MRI & CT Scan used to visualize kidney part for swelling, inflammation and other structural damage. 

Treatment

Kidney failure is managed by dialysis and renal transplant. Supportive therapy and medicines were given in acute kidney failure. 

Treatment of acute kidney failure:- 

• Diuretic therapy 

Diuretic drug is use to increase function of kidney and urination. Ex. Furosemide and Mannitol

• Antihypertensive therapy 

Antihypertensive drugs were given to sialte blood veseel so as to more blood flow reach to kidney. It decrease heart load and maintain circulation. 

• Antibiotic therapy 

Antibiotic therapy is recommended in infectious renal failure. It is given to decrease infection from body.

• NSAID 

Non steroidal antiinflammattory drug is given when kidney cell has swelling, inflammation or tumor. It decrease inflammation and increase blood filtration process. 

Chronic kidney failure treatment:- 

• Dialysis 

For chronic kidney failure dialysis is must for lifetime. It function as to remove waste product from the body. 

• Kidney transplantation 

Kidney transplant is done when kidney damage is irreversible. In this, healthy kidney is surgically replaced in host body from a compatible donor.

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