Kidney failure: the most effective dietary supplements

Renal failure is characterized by a decrease in the excretory function of the kidneys. It can be acute (AKI) or chronic (CKD). AKI is a sudden cessation of kidney function, whereas CKD develops gradually and results in irreversible deterioration of renal function.

Risk Factors

The main risk factors are diabetes, arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, recurrent urinary tract infections, prolonged use of nephrotoxic medications, and a family history of kidney disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms of renal failure may include reduced urine output, onset of edema, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anemia, electrolyte disturbances, and, in advanced cases, seizures or coma.

Causes

The causes of acute renal failure: • Prerenal causes: renal hypoperfusion due to dehydration, shock, or hypovolemia. • Renal causes: a direct injury to the kidneys, such as acute tubular necrosis or glomerulonephritis. • Postrenal causes: obstruction of the urinary tract by stones, tumors, or strictures. The causes of chronic renal failure: • Diabetes: diabetic nephropathy. • Arterial hypertension: nephroangiosclerosis. • Chronic glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and other nephropathies.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation, laboratory tests (serum creatinine, urea), and imaging studies (renal ultrasound, MRI, CT scan). Doppler ultrasound is essential to assess renal perfusion and detect vascular or urinary tract obstruction.

Treatment

Treatment of AKI aims to correct the underlying cause (volume resuscitation, treatment of infections, relief of an obstruction). CKD requires strict management of comorbidities (control of blood glucose and blood pressure, low-salt diet). The use of dialysis or kidney transplantation is necessary in case of progression to end-stage renal disease.