Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

It can be hard to detect chronic kidney disease as there are few symptoms during the early stage.

As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

• weight loss and poor appetite
• swollen ankles, feet or hands
• shortness of breath
• tiredness
• blood in the urine
• urinating less frequently or more frequently in cases of infection or diabetes
• difficulty sleeping
• itchy skin
• muscle cramps
• feeling sick
• headaches
• erectile dysfunction

This stage of CKD is known as kidney failure, end-stage renal disease or established renal failure.

You may be tested for chronic kidney disease if you have an underlying illness such as diabetes. If you're displaying symptoms of CKD, your consultant may order the following tests:

• blood test: this measures a waste product called creatinine in the blood — it used to determine how many millimetres of waste your kidneys filter in a minute.
• urine test: this checks levels of creatinine and protein in your urine

Other diagnostic tests are ultrasound and CT scans, which show any blockages to the kidney, and a biopsy, which determines damage.

There's no cure for chronic kidney disease but treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse. The main treatments are:

• lifestyle changes: to ensure you remain as healthy as possible
• medication: to control associated problems, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, calcium supplements and phosphate binders as indicated
• Dialysis and Holiday Dialysis: treatment to replicate some of the kidney's functions, which may be necessary in advanced CKD
• kidney transplant: this may also be necessary in advanced CKD