Chronic Renal Failure Replacement Therapy

Written by Wang Fei Long
Nephrology
Updated on August 31, 2024
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Chronic kidney failure is the irreversible loss of nephron units and kidney function caused by the progressive progression of chronic kidney disease, leading to a clinical syndrome characterized by the retention of metabolic products and toxins, disturbances in electrolyte and acid-base balance, and endocrine disorders. Chronic kidney failure often progresses to end-stage kidney disease, and the late stage of chronic kidney failure is called the uremic stage. After entering the uremic stage, renal replacement therapy is often required, with the main methods being hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplantation.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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What medicine is used for chronic renal failure?

The treatment of chronic renal failure primarily requires identifying the cause and treating it accordingly. Chronic renal failure refers to the state in which various diseases damage the kidneys, leading to the destruction of kidney tissue and resulting in the kidneys' inability to adequately excrete metabolic waste, causing an accumulation of such wastes in the body. There are no medications that can directly affect the kidneys, regenerate kidney tissue, and restore kidney function. Currently, medicine cannot achieve this, and there are no specific drugs for the treatment. Therefore, the treatment of chronic renal failure focuses on treating the primary disease to slow the progression of renal failure. For example, chronic renal failure caused by diabetes necessitates the use of insulin to control blood sugar, while patients with hypertension need to use antihypertensive drugs.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Can chronic renal failure be cured?

Chronic kidney failure is irreversible and incurable, with no possibility of kidney function recovery. There are many causes of chronic kidney failure, commonly including diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, chronic nephritis, polycystic kidney disease, etc. These causes affect the kidneys over the long term, resulting in extensive damage to kidney tissues. Since kidney tissues cannot regenerate, chronic kidney failure is incurable and irreversible. Patients with chronic kidney failure still require treatment to control the underlying causes leading to the condition, aiming to slow down the progression of the disease as much as possible, prolong the patient’s life, and ensure the quality of life. This is the primary goal of treatment.

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Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
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Symptoms of chronic renal failure

The clinical symptoms of chronic renal failure vary at different stages. In the compensatory and early decompensatory stages of chronic renal failure, patients may experience no symptoms or only mild discomforts such as fatigue, back pain, and increased nocturia, while a few may suffer from reduced appetite, metabolic acidosis, and mild anemia. The main clinical symptoms include disorders of water, electrolyte, and acid-base balance, presenting metabolic acidosis, sodium retention or hypovolemia, or hyponatremia, along with hyperkalemia. Moreover, there are significant manifestations of excess phosphorus and calcium deficiency. Patients may also experience disruptions in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins. Cardiovascular symptoms mainly include hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and uremic cardiomyopathy. Gastrointestinal symptoms can manifest as loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Hematological manifestations may include renal anemia and a tendency to bleed.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Chronic kidney failure is not contagious.

Chronic kidney failure is not contagious. Strictly speaking, chronic kidney failure is not an independent disease; it is a state of disease. It refers to various causes that damage the kidneys, leading to the loss of kidney tissue, and ultimately, the kidneys lose their ability to perform excretory functions. This state is called chronic kidney failure. Chronic kidney failure itself is not contagious. Contagious diseases involve some type of pathogen, whereas the common causes of chronic kidney failure include chronic nephritis, diabetes, kidney diseases, hypertensive nephropathy, etc. None of these diseases are contagious, hence chronic kidney failure is also not contagious.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Does chronic renal failure require dialysis?

Not all cases of chronic renal failure require dialysis. It is only considered when chronic renal failure progresses to an advanced stage, causing severe consequences, and the kidneys are unable to maintain normal body functions, leading to many complications. Generally, when chronic renal failure progresses to its final stage, i.e., uremia, the kidney function is left with about 10% capacity. The body then experiences a disruption in its internal environment, including the accumulation of a large amount of metabolic waste, serious electrolyte disorders, and severe metabolic acidosis. It is at this point that dialysis is considered. In the early stages of chronic renal failure, dialysis is not necessary.