Chronic renal failure
Alternative Names
Kidney failure - chronic; Renal failure - chronic; Chronic renal insufficiency; Chronic kidney failureSymptoms
Initial symptoms may include the following:
- Fatigue
- Frequent hiccups
- General ill feeling
- Generalized itching (pruritus)
- Headache
- Nausea, vomiting
- Unintentional weight loss
Later symptoms may include the following:
- Blood in the vomit or in stools
- Decreased alertness, including drowsiness,confusion, delirium, orcoma
- Decreased sensation in the hands, feet, or other areas
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Increased or decreased urine output
- Muscle twitching or cramps
- Seizures
- White crystals in and on the skin (uremic frost)
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
- Abnormally dark or light skin
- Agitation
- Breath odor
- Excessive nighttime urination
- Excessive thirst
- High blood pressure
- Loss of appetite
- Nail abnormalities
- Paleness
Exams and Tests
There may be mild to severe high blood pressure. A neurologic examination may show polyneuropathy. Abnormal heart or lung sounds may be heard with a stethoscope.
A urinalysis may show protein or other abnormalities. An abnormal urinalysis may occur 6 months to 10 or more years before symptoms appear.
- Creatinine levels progressively increase.
- BUN is progressively increased.
- Creatinine clearance progressively decreases.
- Potassium test may show elevated levels.
- Arterial blood gas and blood chemistry analysis may show metabolic acidosis.
Signs of chronic renal failure, including both kidneys being smaller than normal, may be seen on:
- Abdominal CT scan
- Abdominal MRI
- Abdominal ultrasound
- X-rays of the kidneys and abdomen
This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
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