Chronic Kidney Disease: Treatments

How is chronic kidney disease treated?

Chronic kidney disease can be treated with medications designed to slow and minimize damage to the kidneys. If chronic kidney disease progresses to end stage renal disease, dialysis or kidney transplant may be necessary to properly remove waste and excess water from the bloodstream.

Medications for chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease medications seek to lower blood pressure and restore the proper balance of vitamins and minerals in the blood. Your health care provider may recommend medications for chronic kidney disease including:

• Blood pressure regulators, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Calcium supplements
• Iron supplements or erythropoietin to prevent anemia
• Phosphate binders, to maintain proper phosphate levels in the blood
• Vitamin D supplements

Other treatments for chronic kidney disease

In addition to medication, your doctor may recommend other treatments including:

• Blood transfusions
• Dialysis (filtering of the blood through a machine to remove toxins)
• Kidney transplant

What you can do to improve your chronic kidney disease

In addition to medication and other treatments, lifestyle modifications may help slow the progression of your chronic kidney disease. These modifications include:

• Avoiding smoking
• Changing your diet to limit fluids, protein, salt, potassium, phosphorous and electrolytes
• Consuming enough calories to prevent excessive weight loss
• Controlling your blood pressure
• Controlling your blood sugar
• Exercising regularly
• Getting the appropriate vaccinations
• Participating in a support group to cope with the stress of chronic kidney disease

What are the potential complications of chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a serious progressive illness. While you are unlikely to suffer complications with early stage chronic kidney disease, the risk of complications increases dramatically as the disease progresses. Complications of untreated or poorly controlled chronic kidney disease can be serious, even life threatening in some cases. You can take an active role in minimizing your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care provider design specifically for you. Complications of chronic kidney disease include:

• Anemia (low red blood cell count)
• Congestive heart failure
• Damage to the brain and nerves
• Dementia
• Hyperparathyroidism (overproduction of parathyroid hormone)
• Impotence, infertility and miscarriages
• Increased risk of infection and fractures
• Seizures
• Stroke

References:

Chronic kidney disease. MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000471.htm. Accessed May 22, 2011.

Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. National Institutes of Health Research Online Reporting Tools (RePORT). http://report.nih.gov/NIHfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=34&key=C. Accessed May 22, 2011.