Definition
When kidney function becomes insufficient, replacement therapy or individual conservative care may be discussed.
Symptoms
Fatigue, nausea, poor appetite, fluid overload or laboratory abnormalities vary in severity.
How it may be discovered
Advanced kidney follow-up or severe acute deterioration.
When to seek care
Prepare decisions with the team. Respiratory distress, confusion or collapse requires urgent assessment.
Investigations and tests
Kidney function, potassium, acid-base balance, nutrition and selected transplant assessment.
Reaching a diagnosis
Decisions depend on symptoms and complications, not an isolated creatinine number.
Treatment options
Hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or transplantation according to eligibility and preferences; conservative care is an individually discussed option.
These kidney guides are educational. Medical kidney disease may require coordinated care with a nephrologist.
Explore this topic further
Continue with related explanations of how the body works and treatment options.