Can chronic renal failure be cured?

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 18, 2024
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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
1min 22sec home-news-image

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Failure

The clinical symptoms of chronic renal failure mainly include symptoms related to disturbances in electrolyte and acid-base balance, as well as symptoms of metabolic disorders of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins. There are also manifestations in various organ systems, including the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, hematologic system, neuromuscular system, endocrine system, and bone lesions. Metabolic acidosis is common; patients may also exhibit water and sodium retention or hypovolemia and hyponatremia. Potassium metabolism disorders are often characterized by hyperkalemia, while disturbances in phosphorus and calcium metabolism are mainly manifested as hyperphosphatemia and calcium deficiency. Patients may also show cardiovascular manifestations, primarily hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and uremic cardiomyopathy. Gastrointestinal symptoms in patients may include loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Additionally, renal anemia and a tendency to bleed are common, and skeletal changes are quite frequent, leading to malnutrition of bones, osteomalacia, and osteoporosis.

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Written by Pan Wu Shan
Nephrology
1min 11sec home-news-image

What is good to eat for chronic renal failure?

Dietary aspects of chronic kidney failure should be divided into two parts. Firstly, for patients who have not reached the uremic phase and have not undergone dialysis, it is important to maintain a low-salt, low-fat, high-quality low-protein diet, limiting salt intake to no more than three grams per day and avoiding fried and greasy foods. Lower-quality proteins like beans, soybeans, mung beans, etc., should be consumed in smaller quantities. Instead, more animal proteins should be consumed, such as lean meats, eggs, and milk. Once patients have entered the uremic phase and have started dialysis, a low-salt, low-fat, high-quality high-protein diet is necessary, as dialysis requires a significant amount of energy. Additionally, it is crucial to restrict fluid intake; consuming too much salt or water can easily lead to generalized edema and cardiovascular complications.

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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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home-news-image
Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
1min 22sec home-news-image

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.