Current Views on the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term progressive decline in renal function. Symptoms develop slowly and in advanced stages include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, dysgeusia, nicturia, apathy, chronic fatigue, pruritus, decreased mental clarity, muscle convulsions and seizures, fluid retention, hypotrophy, peripheral neuropathies, and epileptic seizures. Diagnosis is based on laboratory tests of renal function, sometimes supplemented by renal biopsy. Treatment is primarily directed at the underlying disease, but also includes normalisation of water and electrolyte balance, control of blood pressure, treatment of anaemia, various types of dialysis and kidney transplantation.