As a first step in treatment of kidney disease, your doctor will discuss your personal and family history with you. Among other things, your doctor may ask if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, if you have taken any medications that may affect your kidney function, if you have noticed any changes in your urinary habits, and if you have any family members with kidney disease.
Next, your doctor will perform a physical exam to check for signs of problems with your heart or blood vessels and perform a neurological exam.
For the treatment of kidney disease, you may also need certain tests and procedures to determine how severe (stage) your kidney disease is. Tests may include:
- Blood tests. Kidney function tests are done to look for levels of waste products in your blood, such as creatinine and urea.
- Urine test. Analyzing your urine sample can reveal abnormalities that point to chronic kidney failure and help determine the cause of chronic kidney disease.
- Imaging tests. Your doctor may use ultrasound to evaluate the structure and size of your kidneys. Other imaging tests may be used in some cases.
- A sample of kidney tissue is removed for testing. Your doctor may recommend a kidney biopsy, which involves removing a sample of kidney tissue. A kidney biopsy is usually performed under local anesthesia, using a long, thin needle that is inserted through your skin and into your kidney. The biopsy sample is sent to a lab for testing to help determine what is causing your kidney problem.
Treatment of kidney disease
Depending on the cause, treatment of certain kidney diseases is possible. Usually, however, there is no cure for chronic kidney disease.
Treatment of kidney disease usually includes measures to help control signs and symptoms, reduce complications, and slow disease progression. If your kidneys are severely damaged, you may need treatment for end-stage renal disease.
Treatment of the cause of the kidney disease
Your doctor will work to slow or control the cause of your kidney disease. Treatment options vary depending on the cause. However, kidney damage may continue to get worse even if the underlying disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, is under control.
Treatment of kidney disease complications
Treatment of kidney disease can be managed to make you more comfortable. Treatment may include:
- Treatment of kidney disease with medication for high blood pressure. People with kidney disease may have worsening high blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend medications to lower your blood pressure - usually an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker - and to protect kidney function.
- Treatment of kidney disease with High blood pressure medications can initially reduce kidney function and change electrolyte levels, so you may need frequent blood tests to monitor your condition. Your doctor may also recommend taking water pills (diuretics) and a low-salt diet.
- Treatment of kidney disease with medications to relieve swelling. People with chronic kidney disease often retain fluid. This can lead to swelling in the legs as well as high blood pressure. Medications called diuretics can help maintain the fluid balance in your body.
- Treatment of kidney disease with medications for anemia. Supplementation with the hormone erythropoietin (uh-rith-roe-POI-uh-tin), sometimes with the addition of iron, helps produce more red blood cells. This may relieve the fatigue and weakness associated with anemia.
- Treatment of kidney disease with medications that lower cholesterol levels. Your doctor may recommend medications called statins to lower your cholesterol. People with chronic kidney disease often have high levels of bad cholesterol, which may increase the risk of heart disease.
- Treatment of kidney disease with medications to protect your bones. Calcium and vitamin D supplements can help prevent weak bones and reduce the risk of fractures. You may also take medications called phosphate binders to lower the amount of phosphate in your blood and protect your blood vessels from damage caused by calcium deposits (calcification).
- Treatment of kidney disease with a low-protein diet to reduce waste in the blood. When your body processes protein from food, it creates waste products that your kidneys must filter from your blood. To reduce the amount of work your kidneys must do, your doctor may recommend eating less protein. A registered dietitian can suggest ways to lower your protein intake while maintaining a healthy diet.
Your doctor may recommend regular follow-up tests to see if your kidney disease is staying stable or progressing.
Treatment for end-stage kidney disease
If your kidneys cannot keep up with the removal of waste and fluid on their own and you develop complete or near complete kidney failure, you have end-stage renal disease. At this point, you will need either dialysis or a kidney transplant.
- Treatment of kidney disease with Dialysis. When your kidneys are no longer able to do this, dialysis removes waste and excess fluid from your bloodstream in a manual way. In hemodialysis, a machine filters waste and excess fluid from your blood. In peritoneal dialysis, a thin tube inserted into your abdomen fills your abdominal cavity with a dialysis solution that absorbs waste and excess fluid. After a period of time, the dialysis solution is drained from your body, taking the waste with it.
- Treatment of kidney disease with Kidney transplant. A kidney transplant involves the surgical placement of a healthy kidney from a donor into your body. The transplanted kidney can come from a deceased person or a living donor. After the transplant, you will need to take medications for the rest of your life to prevent your body from rejecting the new organ. You do not need to be on dialysis to have a kidney transplant.
For some people who choose not to have dialysis or a kidney transplant, a third option is to treat your kidney failure with conservative measures. Conservative measures may include symptom management, advance care planning, and care to keep you comfortable (palliative care).
Treatment of kidney disease with Lifestyle and home remedies
As part of your treatment for chronic kidney disease, your doctor may recommend a special diet to help support your kidneys and limit the work they must do. Ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian who can analyze your diet and recommend ways to make your diet easier on your kidneys.
Depending on your condition, kidney function and overall health, dietary recommendations may include the following
- Avoid products with added salt. Reduce the amount of sodium you eat each day by avoiding products with added salt, including many convenience foods such as frozen dinners, canned soups and fast foods. Other foods with added salt include salty snacks, canned vegetables, processed meats and cheese.
- Choose foods that are low in potassium. Foods high in potassium include bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach and tomatoes. Examples of low-potassium foods include apples, cabbage, carrots, green beans, grapes and strawberries. Be aware that many salt substitutes contain potassium, so they should generally be avoided if you have kidney failure.
- Limit the amount of protein you eat. Your registered dietitian will estimate how many grams of protein you need each day and make recommendations based on that amount. High-protein foods include lean meats, eggs, milk, cheese, and beans. Low-protein foods include vegetables, fruits, breads and cereals.
Coping and support about treatment of kidney disease with
Receiving a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease can be worrisome. To help you cope with how you are feeling, consider.
- Connecting with other people who have kidney disease. They can understand how you are feeling and offer unique support. Ask your doctor about support groups in your area. Or contact organizations such as the American Association of Kidney Patients, the National Kidney Foundation or the American Kidney Fund to learn about groups in your area.
- Keep your life as normal as possible. If your situation allows, try to keep doing the activities you enjoy and keep working. This can help you cope with feelings of sadness or loss that may arise.
- Be active most days of the week. With your doctor's advice, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. This can help you cope with fatigue and stress.
- Talk to someone you trust. You may have a friend or family member who is a good listener. Or you may find it helpful to talk to a faith leader or someone else you trust. Ask your doctor for a referral to a social worker or counselor.
Preparing for your treatment of kidney disease
You may want to see your primary care doctor first. If lab tests reveal that you have kidney damage, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in kidney problems (nephrologist).
What can you do?
To prepare for your appointment, ask if there is anything you need to do ahead of time, such as limiting your diet. Then make a list of.
- Your symptoms, including any that don't seem to be related to your kidney or urinary function, and when they started
- All medications, vitamins or other supplements you take, including doses
- Any other medical conditions you have and relatives with kidney disease
- Questions to ask about your condition
If possible, bring a family member or friend with you to help you remember the information you receive. Or use a recorder during your visit.
For treatment of kidney disease, some basic questions include:
- How bad is my kidney damage?
- Is my kidney function getting worse?
- Do I still need tests?
- What is wrong with my disease?
- Can the damage to my kidneys be reversed?
- What are my treatment options?
- What are the potential side effects of each treatment?
- I have other health problems how can I best put them together?
- Do I need to eat a special diet?
- Can you refer me to a nutritionist who can help me plan my diet?
- Are there brochures or other printed materials I can get? Do you have any recommended websites?
- How often do I need to have my kidney function tested?
When you think of other questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Your doctor may ask you questions about treatment of kidney disease such as:
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- Have you ever been diagnosed or treated for high blood pressure?
- Have you noticed any changes in your urination habits?
References
1. Glomerulonephritis | Johns Hopkins Medicine
2. Polycystic kidney disease - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
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