Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition where your kidneys fail to work as they should.
Reviewed by Dr Emma Salisbury, Consultant Nephrologist
At a glance
About the condition
Chronic kidney disease is a long-term condition where your kidneys don't work properly.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic services include blood and urine tests that show how well your kidneys are functioning.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the stage of your chronic kidney disease. It can include lifestyle changes, medications, dialysis or a kidney transplant.
What is chronic kidney disease?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition where your kidneys don’t work properly.
When your kidneys don’t work, waste products and excess fluid can’t be removed from your bloodstream – which can make you very unwell.
The severity of kidney disease varies. Some people can manage their condition with lifestyle changes, while others require further treatment.
At Cromwell Hospital, our private nephrologists (medical professionals specialising in kidney disorders) can assess, diagnose and treat all stages of kidney disease.
People often display no symptoms during the early stages of kidney disease which can make it easy to miss. It’s often spotted during blood and urine tests that are being carried out for unrelated reasons.
Advanced stages of kidney disease can cause symptoms including:
- Fatigue
- Swollen ankles, feet and hands
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Itching
Kidney disease isn’t usually a standalone condition – it’s often caused by other conditions putting strain on your kidneys. These may include:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Urine infections
- Conditions causing kidney inflammation
The risk of developing kidney disease increases with age. It’s also more likely to occur in people who are of black or South Asian origin.
People who are at higher risk of developing kidney failure may decide to have regular blood and urine tests so that any abnormalities can be detected early.
Diagnosis of kidney disease
Kidney disease is diagnosed through blood and urine tests as well as ultrasound imaging of the kidneys.
Once diagnosed, your consultant will work out precisely how well your kidneys work by calculating your estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR).
Your e-GFR is used to estimate what stage of kidney disease you are experiencing.
There are five stages of kidney disease, which are categorised by your e-GFR level:
- Stage one: Normal kidney function with signs of disease
- Stage two: Slightly reduced kidney function
- Stage three: Moderately reduced kidney function
- Stage four: Severely reduced kidney function
- Stage five: End-stage kidney disease
Our consultant nephrologists will assess the severity of your kidney disease and create a tailored treatment plan to help you manage the condition. Many cases of kidney disease can be kept under control through medication and lifestyle changes.
Kidney disease treatment
There are several short- and long-term treatments for kidney disease. Our consultant nephrologists can assess what stage of kidney disease you have and create a tailored treatment plan to help manage your condition.
Diet
Individuals with CKD stage four or five will need to follow a kidney-friendly eating plan – a diet low in potassium and phosphate. Our dieticians can provide expert advice on this.
Dialysis
Also known as renal replacement therapy (RRT), dialysis is a treatment which replaces the function of the kidneys by cleansing your blood of waste products and excess fluid.
Kidney transplant
A procedure in which a healthy kidney from one person is transferred into the body of a person who has end stage kidney disease.
Lifestyle changes
Patients with early-stage kidney disease may benefit from lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, healthier eating, weight loss and increased physical exercise.
Medication
As kidney disease progresses, your consultant may prescribe medications to manage the symptoms of kidney disease.
Clinical interests: General nephrology, hypertension, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, and renal transplantation.
Languages spoken: English
Clinical interests: General nephrology, glomerular disease, hypertension, renovascular disease, acute and chronic renal failure, and renal transplantation.
Languages spoken: English
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We welcome both self-paying and insured patients.
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We offer several ways for patients to self-pay, including pay-as-you-go and self-pay packages.
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At Cromwell Hospital, we accept private health insurance from most major providers, including AXA, Aviva, Bupa, and Vitality.
Our locations
Cromwell Hospital
164-178 Cromwell Road
London SW5 0TU
United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7460 5700
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