Staging & Treatment Answers
Permacath & Catheter Care
Diagnostic Safety Insights
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a gradual, progressive loss of kidney function over months or years. Early stages often have no symptoms, making routine screening (blood creatinine, urine protein, eGFR) essential for early detection and prevention of progression.
You should consult a nephrologist if you have elevated serum creatinine, protein in urine (proteinuria), blood in urine (hematuria), uncontrolled high blood pressure, long-standing diabetes, swelling in legs/face, or a family history of kidney failure.
Diagnosis involves a combination of Serum Creatinine & Urea blood tests, Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio (UACR), Renal Ultrasound, eGFR calculation, and in certain cases, a kidney tissue biopsy.
No. Dialysis is generally required only in advanced Stage 5 CKD (Kidney Failure) when eGFR drops below 15 mL/min/1.73m² or when severe symptoms develop. Early stages are managed effectively with medications, dietary modifications, and blood pressure control.
A renal biopsy is a minor, real-time ultrasound-guided procedure where a tiny sample of kidney tissue is extracted using a specialized needle under local anesthesia. It is safe, virtually painless, and crucial for identifying the precise cause of unexplained kidney inflammation or protein leakage.
Kidney transplantation is the gold standard treatment for End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Patients with kidney failure who pass detailed cardiovascular and immunocompatibility medical evaluations qualify for living donor or deceased donor transplantation.
