Renal failure is a syndrome that develops as a result of severe impairment of renal function and leads to disorders of homeostasis. When diagnosed with renal failure, symptoms arise as a result of disturbances in acid-base and water-electrolyte balance in the body.

Species

There are two forms of kidney failure: acute and chronic. (AKI) is characterized by a sudden deterioration in kidney function. This syndrome is caused by a sharp slowdown or cessation of excretion of nitrogen metabolic products from the body. Acute renal failure leads to disorders of electrolyte, water, acid-base, and osmotic balance, resulting in disruption of the normal composition of the blood.

(CRF) is a gradually progressive condition caused by a decrease in the number of functioning nephrons. Symptoms of chronic renal failure increase slowly. In the initial stages of the process, kidney function remains at the proper level due to the activation of nephrons that do not function normally. With further death of renal tissue, the deficiency of renal functions increases, which leads to gradual intoxication of the body with products of its own metabolism.

Reasons

AKI is caused by diseases that lead to a sudden deterioration in renal blood flow. As a result, the glomerular filtration rate decreases and tubular reabsorption slows down. The causes of acute renal failure can be:

• shock of various origins;
• severe infectious diseases;
• massive bleeding;
• acute heart failure;
• intoxication with nephrotoxic poisons;
• kidney vascular damage;
• acute kidney diseases;
• obstruction of the urinary tract.

CRF develops as a result of chronic kidney diseases or other organs and systems:

• diabetes mellitus,
• hypertension,
• scleroderma,
• systemic lupus erythematosus,
• long-term use of certain medications,
• chronic intoxication,
• chronic glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis,
• urolithiasis, etc.

Symptoms

Symptoms of acute and chronic forms of renal failure differ in the time of onset. In acute renal failure, they develop rapidly, and with adequate treatment they can disappear quite quickly with almost complete restoration of kidney function. CRF develops gradually, sometimes over years or decades. At first it may be asymptomatic, and then the symptoms steadily increase. Once chronic renal failure is diagnosed, treatment can improve the condition of patients, but it is almost impossible to completely restore renal function.

Symptoms of acute renal failure

In the first stage of acute renal failure, symptoms of a condition that causes acute renal dysfunction are observed. In case of infectious diseases, this may include fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain. Intestinal infections are accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. In case of sepsis, intoxication - jaundice, signs of anemia, convulsions (depending on the type of poison). Shock states are characterized by confusion or loss of consciousness, pallor and sweating, thready pulse, and low blood pressure. Acute glomerulonephritis is manifested by the release of bloody urine and pain in the lumbar region.

The second (oligoanuric) stage of acute renal failure is characterized by:

• a sharp decrease or complete cessation of urine output;
• symptoms of azotemia (nausea, vomiting, itching of the skin, loss of appetite);
• disturbances of consciousness (confusion, coma);
• increase in body weight as a result of fluid accumulation;
• swelling of the subcutaneous tissue (face, ankles, sometimes the entire subcutaneous tissue - anasarca);
• swelling of vital organs (lungs, brain);
• accumulation of fluid in the pleural, pericardial, abdominal cavity;
• general serious condition.

If the outcome is favorable, after some time a period of diuresis recovery begins. At first, urine begins to be excreted in small quantities, and then its volume exceeds normal (polyuria). The accumulated liquid and nitrogenous wastes are removed. Then the amount of urine excreted is normalized and recovery occurs.

In case of improper treatment or its absence, after the second period the terminal stage occurs. During this period, signs of renal failure are as follows:

• shortness of breath, cough, discharge of pink foamy sputum (due to pulmonary edema and the presence of fluid in the pleural cavity);
• subcutaneous hemorrhages, hematomas, internal bleeding;
• confusion, drowsiness, coma;
• spasms or muscle cramps;
• cardiac dysfunction (arrhythmia).

As a rule, such cases end in death.

Symptoms of chronic renal failure

Signs of chronic renal failure begin to appear with significant changes in the renal structure. These include:

• decrease or increase in the volume of urine excreted;
• excretion of more urine at night than during the day;
• swelling in the morning (especially on the face);
• malaise, weakness.

The final stage of chronic renal failure is manifested by symptoms of uremia (accumulation of uric acid salts in the blood) and disturbances of water and electrolyte metabolism:

• massive swelling of the subcutaneous tissue;
• accumulation of fluid in body cavities;
• shortness of breath, cough (cardiac asthma or pulmonary edema);
• persistent increase in blood pressure;
• visual impairment;
• signs of anemia (pallor, tachycardia, brittle hair and nails, weakness, fatigue);
• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
• ammonia odor from the mouth;
• stomach ache;
• weight loss;
• itchy skin, “powdery” skin;
• yellowish skin tone;
• fragility of blood vessels (bleeding gums, subcutaneous hemorrhages);
• in women - cessation of menstruation;
• disturbances of consciousness up to coma.

If in the terminal stage of chronic renal failure the patient is not transferred to, then death is inevitable.

Important! If any of the above symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor. Kidney failure, like many other diseases, is better treated in the early stages. Neglecting your health can cost your life!

Treatment

Treatment of acute renal failure includes eliminating the cause, restoring homeostasis and impaired renal function. Depending on the cause of acute renal failure, you may need:

• antibacterial agents,
• detoxification therapy (saline infusions, enterosorbents, hemodialysis),
• fluid replenishment (infusion of saline and colloid solutions, transfusion of blood, its components and blood substitutes);
• hormonal drugs, etc.

Hemodialysis is one of the methods of detoxification therapy

To detoxify the body and remove nitrogenous waste, they resort to hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, and hemosorption. To restore diuresis, diuretics are prescribed. In addition, solutions of potassium, sodium, calcium and other electrolytes are introduced depending on the type of acid-base and water-electrolyte imbalance. During the stage of restoration of diuresis, it is necessary to ensure that dehydration of the body does not occur. If cardiac function is impaired during acute renal failure, cardiac medications are used.

Treatment of chronic renal failure involves addressing the cause of the disease, maintaining kidney function and detoxification therapy. In addition, diet is of great importance for kidney failure.

In the initial stages, treatment is aimed at the underlying disease. Its goal is to slow progression or stable remission. For arterial hypertension, antihypertensive drugs are prescribed. Constant correction of metabolism in diabetes mellitus is carried out. If the cause of chronic renal failure is autoimmune diseases, then glucocorticoid hormones and cytostatics are prescribed. For chronic heart failure, medications are used to correct the functioning of the heart. If chronic renal failure is caused by anatomical changes, then surgical intervention is performed. For example, the patency of the urinary tract is restored or a large stone or tumor is removed.

Subsequently, against the background of ongoing treatment of the underlying disease, symptomatic therapy is prescribed. Diuretics are used to reduce swelling. For symptoms of anemia, it is necessary to prescribe iron supplements, vitamins, etc.

In the last stages of chronic renal failure, the patient is transferred to chronic hemodialysis (the process of artificial blood filtration). The procedure is performed 2-3 times a week. An alternative to hemodialysis is kidney transplantation. In the terminal stage of renal failure, irreversible changes in internal organs develop, so it is better to decide on transplantation in advance. With good compatibility and a successful kidney transplant, the patient has a great chance of recovery and a full life.

Diet

A special diet for chronic renal failure will help reduce the load on the kidneys and slow down the progression of the process. In addition, proper nutrition during kidney failure will significantly improve your well-being.

Basic principles of the diet:

• limiting protein intake,
• high calorie content,
• sufficient content of fruits and vegetables,
• control of the intake of table salt and liquid,
• fasting fruit and vegetable days 1-2 times a week.

In the initial stage of chronic renal failure, the amount of protein in food approaches normal (about 1 g/kg body weight), provided that there are 1-2 fasting days per week. In later stages, the daily protein intake should not exceed 20-30 g. At the same time, a sufficient supply of essential amino acids is necessary (the daily norm is contained in two chicken eggs). The high calorie content of food is achieved through fats (mainly vegetable) and carbohydrates. It is believed that under such conditions, nitrogenous waste can be used for the synthesis of non-essential amino acids.

The amount of fluid required is calculated by the formula: the volume of urine excreted per day plus 500-800 ml. In this case, all liquids (drinks, soups, fruits, vegetables) should be taken into account. In the absence of severe arterial hypertension and edema and the water balance is maintained, the patient can receive 4-6 g of table salt per day. If drug treatment includes sodium preparations, then the amount of salt in food is reduced accordingly. When hypertension and edema are severe, salt in the daily menu is limited to 3-4 g or less. Long-term significant restriction of salt is undesirable, therefore, with a decrease in edema and a decrease in blood pressure, its amount can again be slightly increased.

Treatment with traditional methods

If kidney failure is diagnosed, treatment with folk remedies can have a good effect, especially in the early stages. Many plants that have a diuretic effect are used for this purpose. The most commonly used are birch buds, lingonberry leaves, horsetail, string, black currant leaves, chamomile, and kidney tea. Sometimes mint, corn silk, St. John's wort and other plants, as well as preparations from them, are used. They are usually consumed in the form of infusions and decoctions.

Important: before starting treatment with one of the folk remedies, consult your doctor. There are contraindications for some plants. Traditional medicine methods are used only as an auxiliary treatment in combination with doctor’s prescriptions.

Kidney failure is a progressive disease that gradually leads to tissue death. When the process becomes chronic, the functionality of all organs and systems is disrupted.

What are the symptoms of kidney failure?

Clinical picture

Kidney failure affects both men and women, occurring in their bodies in approximately the same way.

Starting from the acute phase, the process quickly becomes chronic, which is characterized by high concentrations of urea and creatinine in the blood. They are nitrogenous products of protein breakdown. Gradually, the kidneys fail, and the body tries to remove these substances through the delicate mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and lungs, which are simply not adapted to such stress. The result is uremia, which poisons all cells.

With kidney failure, an aversion to meat develops, the patient constantly suffers from thirst, nausea and vomiting. Muscle cramps, aches and bone pain occur. The skin on the face becomes jaundiced, and the breath is accompanied by an ammonia odor.

The amount of urine produced is significantly reduced or urination stops completely. The patient takes diuretics, but they do not help much, and his swelling does not go away. A decrease in renal function is accompanied by a disruption in the production of biologically active substances in the filtering organ. At the same time, the metabolism of glucose, calcium and phosphorus becomes difficult, and the performance of the gonads deteriorates.

Acute form

Acute renal failure (ARF) in men and women usually develops asymptomatically and manifests itself suddenly. When a person learns about the disease, kidney damage is often irreversible. This results in urinary retention. In men, this condition in most cases becomes one of the manifestations of prostate adenoma. However, this symptom may also indicate the presence of kidney stones or a bladder tumor. In this case, men experience bursting pain in the lower abdomen, and the urge to go to the toilet becomes strong and frequent. If back pain and fever are added, pyelonephritis has most likely developed.

Acute renal failure is an indication for urgent hospitalization. The patient requires serious treatment. In this case, treatment methods are determined by the causes of renal dysfunction. The modern approach involves conservative treatment, which uses drugs to relieve symptoms.

Reasons

The following causes of acute renal failure are identified:

1. Impaired renal hemodynamics.
2. Infectious diseases.
3. Pathologies of the urinary system.
4. Kidney injuries and surgeries.

The prerenal form of acute renal failure causes difficulty in blood circulation as a result of blood loss and congestion. Treatment involves drugs to normalize heart rate, droppers with saline solutions to restore plasma levels, and medications to improve blood microcirculation.

The renal form of acute renal failure occurs due to pathologies of small blood vessels or medications. Acute renal failure syndrome develops as a result of poisoning with household toxins and bites of poisonous snakes. Treatment is also conservative. For glomerulonephritis and immune disorders, cytotoxic drugs and glucocorticosteroids are prescribed, and for infections - antibiotics. Signs of intoxication are relieved by plasmapheresis.

The postrenal form of the disease occurs due to difficulty in the outflow of urine. This is common in older men with an enlarged prostate gland. Surgery is often required to remove the obstruction that is preventing the normal flow of urine. Otherwise, even diuretics will not be effective.

Characteristic signs

When acute renal failure develops, symptoms may not appear for a long time. The main symptom of acute renal failure syndrome is a decrease in urine output (oliguria), up to complete cessation of urination (anuria). The patient’s health is rapidly deteriorating, and the following signs are observed:

• nausea with vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• loss of appetite;
• swelling of the hands and feet;
• lethargy;
• excited state;
• enlarged liver.

Signs may vary depending on the stage of the disease. In total, there are 4 stages of the disease.

In case of acute renal failure of the first degree, poisoning occurs with nausea, which is accompanied by intestinal pain. The patient becomes pale, feels weak and unwell.

Acute renal failure stage II is characterized by oliguria or anuria. The patient's condition worsens significantly; urea and other products of protein metabolism begin to quickly accumulate in his blood. Self-intoxication starts in the body, the person suffers from edema, diarrhea, hypertension, tachycardia. He quickly loses strength, constantly wants to sleep, and becomes lethargic.

Acute kidney failure of the third degree is marked by the beginning of recovery. Urine formation increases and the concentration function of the kidneys is restored. The functionality of the paired organ is restored.

Stage IV of acute renal failure syndrome is the recovery phase. All indicators of renal activity are normalized. However, full recovery may take a year.

Chronic form

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a steady deterioration in the functioning of the kidneys due to the death of tissue, which is replaced by connective tissue. The organ shrinks and completely loses its functionality. Chronic renal failure syndrome affects up to 500 people out of every million men and women, and the number of cases is growing every year.

Reasons for appearance

Chronic renal failure develops as a result of various pathologies with concomitant damage to the glomeruli, among them:

• chronic kidney diseases;
• metabolic disorders;
• congenital kidney anomalies;
• rheumatic diseases;
• vascular diseases;
• pathologies leading to difficulty in the outflow of urine.

Often, chronic renal failure syndrome appears against the background of chronic pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis, diabetes mellitus and gout. The hereditary factor has a significant influence on the development of the disease.

Among the rheumatic diseases that provoke chronic renal failure syndrome are lupus erythematosus and scleroderma, and among vascular diseases - arterial hypertension. Often, chronic renal failure develops as a consequence of kidney stones, hydronephrosis and tumors, due to which the urinary tract is compressed.

Symptoms

Signs of renal failure when it becomes chronic become pronounced, so it is not difficult to identify the disease.

Chronic renal failure occurs in 4 stages:

1. Latent.
2. Compensated.
3. Intermittent.
4. Terminal.

Depending on the degree of the disease, symptoms are expressed stronger or weaker, which affects treatment. Initially, a person experiences weakness and dry mouth.

At stage II, these signs intensify. Chronic renal failure syndrome, when compensated, is accompanied by an increase in urine output to 2.5 liters per day, while tests show deviations in the chemical composition of biological fluids.

In the intermittent stage, chronic renal failure is characterized by even greater inhibition of organ function. A consistently elevated level of nitrogenous metabolic products of protein, urea and creatinine is detected in the blood. Chronic renal failure syndrome leads to severe fatigue and nausea with vomiting. The patient experiences constant thirst and dry mouth, and loses his appetite. The skin becomes flabby and dry, acquiring a jaundiced color. At the same time, muscle tone is lost, tremors (involuntary vibrations of any part of the body) develop, and joints and bones begin to hurt less often.

When chronic renal failure syndrome reaches this stage of development, there is a sharp decrease in the body's defenses. A person's condition may periodically improve, but then it gets worse again. The patient is treated with conservative methods, at this time he is still able to work. But if you do not follow the diet, physical and emotional stress, the symptoms worsen. Surgery may be required.

With the onset of the final stage, people's general condition worsens. Apathy is replaced by excitement, problems with night sleep arise, retardation of movements and inappropriate behavior appear. A person’s appearance changes: the face becomes puffy and gray-yellow in color, the hair becomes thinner, loses its shine, scratches remain on the skin because it is constantly itching, and dystrophy develops. The voice becomes hoarse, and the breath begins to smell of ammonia.

From the gastrointestinal tract, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting are observed. The tongue is constantly coated, and aphthous stomatitis is observed.

Tests reveal persistently elevated concentrations of urea and creatinine in the patient’s blood, which provokes uremia. Moreover, the presence of hematuria in men may be a sign of hemophilia.

End stage chronic renal failure syndrome is also accompanied by encephalopathy with depression, memory impairment, and mood swings. Normal hormone synthesis is disrupted, resulting in impaired blood clotting and decreased immunity. The patient requires long-term treatment, and the sooner it is started, the more likely it is that surgery can be avoided.

Method of examination

Diagnosis of acute and chronic renal failure is necessary for the doctor to clarify the diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment. The following tests are expected:

1. General and bacteriological urine analysis.
2. Biochemical and general blood test.

Urine tests can confirm the reason why the decrease in renal function occurred. Red blood cells indicate urolithiasis, tumors, injuries, and white blood cells indicate the presence of infection and immunity disorders.

If a decrease in renal function occurs due to infection, then a bacteriological analysis of urine will reveal the pathogen.

Both chronic and acute renal failure are characterized by a high level of leukocytes in the blood and a slight decrease in the content of platelets in it. A decrease in hemoglobin indicates anemia, and an acceleration of their sedimentation indicates the presence of inflammation.

A biochemical blood test allows you to trace changes in the body that caused a decrease in kidney function. In acute renal failure, high levels of magnesium and creatine and low pH are detected. When the process becomes chronic, increased levels of cholesterol, urea, potassium and phosphorus are found in the blood. At the same time, a decrease in calcium and protein concentrations is recorded.

Analyzes are carried out first, then hardware research methods are used:

1. Computed and magnetic resonance imaging.
2. X-ray.
3. Kidney biopsy.

Ultrasound, CT and MRI are used in acute renal failure to determine the cause of narrowing of the urinary tract, which has led to deterioration of renal function.

X-rays are used to detect pathologies of the respiratory system. A biopsy is used when other methods fail to identify the cause of deterioration in kidney function. Arrhythmias are detected using an ECG.

Symptoms of kidney failure do not appear immediately, so the disease cannot always be diagnosed at an early stage . However, conservative treatment is usually used, and surgery is required only in advanced cases.

Kidney failure refers to a number of pathologies that pose a significant threat to human life. The disease leads to disruption of the water-salt and acid-base balance, which entails deviations from the norm in the functioning of all organs and tissues. As a result of pathological processes in the renal tissue, the kidneys lose the ability to fully remove the products of protein metabolism, which leads to the accumulation of toxic substances in the blood and intoxication of the body.

Depending on the nature of the disease, it can be acute or chronic. The causes, treatments and symptoms of kidney failure for each of them have certain differences.

Causes of the disease

The causes of kidney failure are very different. For acute and chronic forms of the disease they differ significantly. Symptoms of acute renal failure (ARF) arise due to injuries or significant blood loss, complications after surgery, acute kidney pathologies, poisoning with heavy metals, poisons or drugs, and other factors. In women, the development of the disease can be triggered by childbirth or infection entering and spreading beyond the pelvic organs as a result of abortion. With acute renal failure, the functional activity of the kidneys is disrupted very quickly, there is a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate and a slowdown in the reabsorption process in the tubules.

Chronic renal failure (CRF) develops over a long period of time with a gradual increase in the severity of symptoms. Its main causes are chronic diseases of the kidneys, blood vessels or metabolism, congenital abnormalities of the development or structure of the kidneys. In this case, there is a dysfunction of the organ for removing water and toxic compounds, which leads to intoxication and generally causes disruption of the body.

Advice: If you have chronic kidney disease or other factors that can provoke kidney failure, you should be especially careful about your health. Regular visits to a nephrologist, timely diagnosis and compliance with all doctor’s recommendations are of great importance to prevent the development of this serious disease.

Characteristic symptoms of the disease

Signs of renal failure in the case of acute form appear sharply and have a pronounced character. In the chronic version of the disease, in the first stages the symptoms may be invisible, but with the gradual progression of pathological changes in the kidney tissue, their manifestations become more intense.

Symptoms of acute renal failure

Clinical signs of acute renal failure develop over a period of a couple of hours to several days, sometimes weeks. These include:

• a sharp decrease or absence of diuresis;
• increased body weight due to excess fluid in the body;
• the presence of swelling, mainly in the ankles and face;
• loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea;
• pallor and itching of the skin;
• feeling tired, headaches;
• excretion of bloody urine.

In the absence of timely or inadequate treatment, shortness of breath, cough, confusion and even loss of consciousness, muscle spasms, arrhythmia, bruising and subcutaneous hemorrhages appear. This condition can be fatal.

Symptoms of chronic renal failure

The period of development of chronic renal failure until characteristic symptoms appear, when significant irreversible changes in the kidneys have already occurred, can range from several to tens of years. Patients with this diagnosis experience:

• impaired diuresis in the form of oliguria or polyuria;
• violation of the ratio of night and daytime diuresis;
• the presence of swelling, mainly on the face, after a night's sleep;
• increased fatigue, weakness.

The last stages of chronic renal failure are characterized by the appearance of massive edema, shortness of breath, cough, high blood pressure, blurred vision, anemia, nausea, vomiting and other severe symptoms.

Important: If you notice symptoms indicating kidney problems, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible. The course of the disease has a more favorable prognosis if therapy is started in a timely manner.

Fatigue and headache may be due to kidney failure

Treatment of the disease

In case of renal failure, treatment should be comprehensive and aimed primarily at eliminating or controlling the cause that provoked its development. The acute form of renal failure, unlike the chronic form, responds well to treatment. Properly selected and timely therapy makes it possible to almost completely restore kidney function. To eliminate the cause and treat acute renal failure, the following methods are used:

• taking antibacterial drugs;
• detoxification of the body using hemodialysis, plasmaphoresis, enterosorbents, etc.;
• fluid replenishment in case of dehydration;
• restoration of normal diuresis;
• symptomatic treatment.

Treatment for chronic renal failure includes:

• control of the underlying disease (hypertension, diabetes, etc.);
• maintaining kidney function;
• elimination of symptoms;
• detoxification of the body;
• following a special diet.

At the last stage of chronic renal failure, patients are advised to undergo regular hemodialysis or a donor kidney transplant. Such treatment methods are the only way to prevent or significantly delay death.

Hemodialysis is a method of purifying blood from electrolytes and toxic metabolic products

Nutritional considerations in the presence of renal failure

A special diet for kidney failure helps reduce the load on the kidneys and stop the progression of the disease. Its main principle is to limit the amount of protein, salt and liquid consumed, which leads to a decrease in the concentration of toxic substances in the blood and prevents the accumulation of water and salts in the body. The severity of the diet is determined by the attending physician, taking into account the patient’s condition. The basic rules of nutrition for kidney failure are as follows:

• limiting the amount of protein (from 20 g to 70 g per day, depending on the severity of the disease);
• high energy value of food (vegetable fats, carbohydrates);
• high content of vegetables and fruits in the diet;
• control of the amount of total fluid consumed, calculated from the volume of urine excreted per day;
• limiting salt intake (from 1 g to 6 g, depending on the severity of the disease);
• fasting days at least once a week, consisting of eating only vegetables and fruits;
• steam cooking method (or boiling);
• fractional diet.

In addition, foods that cause kidney irritation are completely excluded from the diet. These include coffee, chocolate, strong black tea, cocoa, mushrooms, spicy and salty foods, fatty meat or fish and broths based on them, smoked meats, and alcohol.

Diet is a very important element in the treatment of kidney failure

Traditional methods of treatment

In case of renal failure, treatment with folk remedies in the early stages gives a good effect. The use of infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants that have a diuretic effect helps reduce swelling and remove toxins from the body. For this purpose, birch buds, rose hips, chamomile and calendula flowers, burdock root, dill and flax seeds, lingonberry leaves, horsetail grass, etc. are used. From the listed plants, you can make various infusions and use them to prepare kidney teas.

In case of kidney failure, drinking pomegranate juice and decoction of pomegranate peel, which has a general strengthening effect and increases immunity, also gives a good effect. The presence of seaweed in the diet helps improve kidney function and promote the elimination of metabolic products.

Advice: The use of traditional methods of treatment for renal failure must be agreed with the attending physician.

Due to impaired renal function, the patient develops functional renal failure. According to statistics, the disease occurs in 5 people out of 10,000 people. In this case, one of the kidneys fully performs all functions, which is why patients do not always suspect the presence of the disease. But in some cases, both kidneys fail, leading to serious health problems. What causes kidney disease and what types of ailments are diagnosed in patients?

General information and types of illness

In patients diagnosed with severe renal failure, kidney function is partially or completely impaired. As a result, failures in the body’s self-regulation occur, causing tissues or organs to suffer. The disease develops in people of all ages and genders, but in most cases the diagnosis is made in young patients. More often, the syndrome develops as a result of other diseases, surgeries or kidney injuries. The classification includes such types of illness as acute and chronic.

1. Acute renal failure is diagnosed when organ function deteriorates sharply. As a result, the patient’s excretion of nitrogen metabolic products slows down or worsens.
2. With chronic renal failure (CKD), the patient's health deteriorates gradually and symptoms develop slowly. In the initial stages there are practically no changes, but as the disease progresses, the kidney tissues die, and then intoxication occurs, which is dangerous for the body.

Stages and causes of development of the disease

Heart failure is one of the causes of kidney failure.

What are the causes of kidney failure? After all, kidney failure is diagnosed in women and men, regardless of age. Most often, the mechanisms of development of the disease are associated with disturbances in the structure and functioning of the organ, which appear when exposed to environmental and internal environmental factors, which can lead to kidney failure. But the disease is also associated with other diseases of the body that are not related to the kidneys. The following causes are also identified:

• heart failure;
• abnormal renal structure;
• the presence of diabetes mellitus, autoimmune diseases, liver cirrhosis, urolithiasis;
• liver failure;
• inflammation of the kidneys, which resulted in complications;
• the presence of malignant tumors;
• poisoning of the body with poisons or chemicals;
• long-term use of medications;
• massive bleeding.

Stages of the disease

Acute type

Intoxication of the body is observed at the initial stage of acute kidney disease.

In its acute form, the disease has 4 stages of renal failure. The initial, mild stage lasts from the moment of impact of the causes until the appearance of symptoms. However, it can last up to several days, and the patient experiences intoxication of the body. At the second oligoanuric stage, a person’s health deteriorates, metabolic products (creatinine, urea) accumulate in the blood. The third (restorative) degree is characterized by restoration of renal function, improvement of the functioning of the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems. In the fourth stage, which lasts up to a year, the person recovers, and insufficient renal function returns to normal over time.

Chronic type

In a patient with chronic renal failure, 4 stages of development are distinguished. At the latent stage, there are no signs, which is why the person is unaware of the development of the disease. But if physical activity occurs, the patient becomes weak, lethargic, and experiences diarrhea, headache, nausea, vomiting, and bad breath. At the second, clinical, degree, intoxication occurs. At the stage of decompensation, respiratory diseases join the symptoms of intoxication, and infection spreads in the genitourinary system. In the severe terminal stage, vital organs stop working, the skin turns yellow, neurological disorders develop, and then death occurs.

External signs and symptoms in men and women

Problems with urination are characteristic of the second stage of acute renal failure.

How does kidney failure develop in men and women? Signs of the acute type of the disease differ from the symptoms of the chronic type. With acute renal failure, symptoms appear depending on the factor in the onset of the disease. For example, if the disease appears due to infectious diseases, the patient feels headaches, chills, and fever. The second stage of acute renal failure is characterized by the following symptoms:

• urination becomes difficult, there is a sharp decrease in the amount of urine released or a complete cessation;
• the appearance of symptoms of azotemia, including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and itchy skin;
• impaired consciousness, until the development of coma;
• weight gain due to the accumulation of large amounts of fluid; swelling of the lungs and brain;
• temperature rises;
• internal hemorrhage;
• accumulation of excessive fluid in the abdominal or pleural cavity;
• swelling of the face, ankles.

If the patient does not begin treatment at the second stage, the third severe phase begins. It is characterized by the appearance of pinkish sputum, an attack of coughing and shortness of breath. A person may experience numerous hematomas, as well as subcutaneous bleeding. The patient is characterized by confusion, drowsiness, muscle cramps, and heart attacks.

Signs of chronic renal failure

A constant feeling of fatigue and malaise is one of the signs of a chronic form of the disease.

The first signs of renal failure in the chronic form appear when severe changes in the structure of the kidneys occur. At the same time, the patient’s amount of urine excreted decreases (increases), swelling of the legs and face is observed, and more fluid is released at night than during the daytime. In addition, the person constantly feels weak and suffers from malaise. The mechanism of development of the final stage involves the appearance, as well as a violation of water-electrolyte metabolism.

In people, fluid accumulates in various body cavities, body weight decreases, vision is impaired, bad breath, rash, and pain in the abdominal area appear. The patient's skin itches, gums begin to bleed, urination becomes difficult, hair and nails begin to break, and blood pressure increases. Progressive renal failure in women is characterized by the absence of menstruation.

Possible complications of the disease

If the patient does not begin treatment measures in the early stages of the disease, then he will develop negative consequences. At the terminal stage, the kidneys can no longer cope with their work, which is why they stop functioning, and toxic substances accumulate in the body. Because of this, a person may develop gastroenterocolitis, pericarditis, myocardial dystrophy and renal-hepatic syndrome. With renal-liver failure, the vessels in the cortical zone of the organ narrow.

Diagnostic measures for renal failure

Laboratory tests and their indicators

1. To make an accurate diagnosis, patients must undergo a general urine test. With its help, the density of urine is determined and low protein is diagnosed. Urinalysis for renal pathology makes it possible to assess the level of red and white blood cells. For accurate indicators, patients give morning urine.
2. With the help of bacteriological examination of urine, the type of infection due to which kidney function is impaired is determined. The examination also allows us to identify the level of sensitivity of harmful microorganisms to antibacterial agents.
3. The patient needs to donate blood for a general blood test, which determines an increased level of leukocytes, as well as a decreased level of red blood cells and hemoglobin.
4. A biochemical blood test makes it possible to evaluate changes occurring in the body due to impaired renal function. In the acute form of the disease, the patient has unstable levels of phosphorus, calcium and potassium, and the level of magnesium also increases. In chronic cases, the level of potassium and phosphorus increases, and the level of calcium and protein decreases.

Homeostasis disorders are a direct consequence of a disease such as renal failure. This syndrome is associated with severe renal dysfunction. The occurrence of symptoms of renal failure in women is very closely related to a violation of water-electrolyte or acid-base balance in the human body.

Species

Interestingly, the disease depends on the symptoms and form of the disease; it can be acute or chronic renal failure. The first option is associated with a sudden deterioration in kidney function. Disorders of water, electrolyte, osmotic or acid-base balance are closely related to such a negative process as a sharp slowdown or cessation of the excretion of nitrogen metabolism products from the human body of a woman. As a result of renal failure, the symptoms of which are obvious, it is quite possible that such an unpleasant phenomenon as a violation of the normal composition of the blood.

If a woman has chronic renal failure, then this is due to a decrease in the number of functioning nephrons. Moreover, this form of the disease is characterized by a gradual progressive condition with a slow increase in symptoms of renal failure.

Due to the symptoms of gradual death of kidney tissue, a deficiency of renal function becomes the cause of intoxication in a woman’s body, because her own waste products cannot be fully eliminated from the body.

According to the international classification, chronic renal failure in women is coded according to ICD 10 and has the number N18.

Chronic renal failure symptoms present in women, the stages of creatinine number 4. They are based on the level of its content in the blood. At the first stage, its level rises to 442.0 µmol per liter. On the second - up to 884.0 µmol per liter. On the third - up to 1326.0 µmol per liter, and on the fourth everything that is above this figure.

Reasons

The occurrence of symptoms of renal failure in women is closely related to diseases that lead to a sharp deterioration in renal blood flow. Such conditions can occur due to shock of various origins, severe infectious diseases, massive bleeding, acute heart failure, intoxication with nephrotoxic poisons, damage to the kidney vessels, acute kidney diseases, and urinary tract obstruction.

The chronic form may be associated with other chronic diseases and their symptoms. We are talking about diabetes mellitus, hypertension, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, chronic intoxication, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, urolithiasis in women. Such conditions may occur if certain medications have been used as adequate treatments.

Kidney failure in women of this type is a real opportunity to recover quickly and never have to think about this problem and symptoms again. It is much worse if the presence of a chronic form is confirmed. The disease can last for several years, which has a catastrophic effect on the condition of the human body. In addition, a steady increase in symptoms is unlikely to be avoided. Chronic renal failure is complicated by the fact that the possibility of completely restoring the functions of damaged organs is practically absent.

The acute form and symptoms are observed at the first stage in women, so it is much easier to cure. Moreover, the symptoms of kidney failure are quite obvious. Acute renal dysfunction can manifest itself in the form of fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain. Confusion or loss of consciousness often occurs. Paleness, sweating, thready pulse and low blood pressure are also unpleasant signs of this disease. The disease can also be recognized by the presence of blood in the urine and pain in the lower back.

Due to late consultation with a doctor, the second stage of the disease often occurs. The disease is characterized by symptoms such as a sharp decrease or complete cessation of urine output, azothermia, impaired consciousness, weight gain, swelling of the subcutaneous tissue, swelling of vital organs, and accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. The onset of a general serious condition is no exception.

A favorable outcome in the treatment of renal failure is associated with a period of restoration of diuresis. At first, urine output gradually increases, reaching normal levels, and then becomes even greater. This indicates the beginning of the process of removing fluid from the body that has accumulated during the development of the disease.

In case of improper control of renal failure, there is a possibility of the onset of the terminal stage. It is characterized by shortness of breath, cough, foamy pink sputum, subcutaneous hemorrhages, hematomas, and internal bleeding. At the nervous system level, we are talking about confusion, drowsiness, coma, spasms or muscle cramps. Disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system are quite likely. People who have such health problems should be regularly checked by a doctor in order to prevent the occurrence of the disease.

Symptoms of kidney failure

The main difference between acute and chronic forms of the disease in women is the timing of the onset of symptoms of renal failure. In the first case, we are talking about rapid development, but the advantage of this point is that it is possible to completely restore kidney function in women if adequate methods of treating renal failure are used. Kidney failure in women of this type is a real opportunity to recover quickly and never have to think about this problem again. It is much worse if the fact of the presence of a permanent form is confirmed.

The disease can last for several years, which has a catastrophic effect on the condition of the woman’s body. In addition, a steady increase in symptoms is unlikely to be avoided. Chronic renal failure is complicated by the fact that the possibility of completely restoring the functions of damaged organs is practically absent.

In the early stages of the disease, its presence can be determined by signs and symptoms. Further we are talking about more significant changes in the structure of the kidney tissue. An immediate sign of the onset of this process in women is an increase in the amount of urine that is released at night. Moreover, swelling may appear on the face, especially in the morning. This is accompanied by weakness and malaise.

The disease in its final stage is closely associated with symptoms in women that are characteristic of uremia. Moreover, it is likely that water-electrolyte metabolism is impaired. Death can only be avoided if hemodialysis is used in a timely manner.

If a woman develops symptoms of kidney failure, she should immediately seek help from a doctor, because at the initial stage it is much easier to cope with the disease.

Kidney failure symptoms and signs in women

The kidneys are the most important organ of the excretory system. His spontaneous refusal leads to dire consequences. If you react in time and take action, you can manage to prevent the inevitable. It is very important to know the main symptoms of kidney failure in women in order to urgently go to the clinic.

Kidney failure symptoms and signs in men

The symptoms of the disease in men are completely identical to those in women. As the condition worsens, people experience shortness of breath due to fluid accumulating in the lungs and bruising may form on the body. The general condition can be described as drowsy. Spasms and cramps affect the muscles. Losing consciousness is critical.

Treatment of kidney failure

The first stage of treatment for the acute form is to eliminate the cause. Moreover, it is necessary to restore homeostasis and impaired renal function as quickly as possible. More specific agents used to treat renal failure depend on the course of the disease and the patient's condition. We can talk about antibacterial agents, detoxification therapy, fluid replenishment, hormonal drugs. Detoxification of the body and removal of nitrogenous wastes is carried out using hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, and hemosorption. To restore diuresis, the best option is the correct selection of diuretics. The introduction of sodium, potassium and calcium salts is also practiced, which helps restore water-electrolytic balance.

When treating an advanced stage, the main principle is to influence the cause of the disease. Moreover, it is necessary to pay attention to detoxification therapy and maintaining normal kidney function. An important aspect is a special diet.

The initial stage of treatment of renal failure is associated with the need to achieve a slowdown or stable remission of the underlying disease. In the future, it is possible to prescribe symptomatic therapy together with permanent measures. For example, swelling can be reduced by prescribing diuretics. If there is a threat of developing anemia, then you cannot do without vitamins and iron supplements.

The last stages are associated with the need for hemodialysis, which is also called artificial blood filtration. This procedure is prescribed 2-3 times a week. A good, but not always accessible, alternative to this procedure is organ transplantation.

More details about dialysis in the video:

Nutrition and diet

Proper nutrition is one of the factors that can influence a speedy recovery. The main task is to reduce the load on the kidneys and slow down the process of increasing the volume of affected kidney tissue.

Diet must be very nutritious. The basic principles include limiting the consumption of foods that contain protein. Moreover, it is necessary to ensure high caloric intake and consumption of more vegetables and fruits. The neglected form is inextricably linked with fruit and vegetable fasting days, which are recommended to be used several times a week.

High calorie content of food can be achieved through vegetable fats and carbohydrates. In order to determine the amount of liquid that needs to be consumed per day, a special formula is used. First you need to measure the amount of urine that is excreted per day, and then add 500-800 ml to this number. For severe edema and hypertension, it is necessary to include 3-4 g of table salt in the diet. If sodium is used in the treatment of renal failure, the dosage of salt must be significantly reduced. However, limiting the amount of salt consumed for too long can lead to negative consequences. If during the treatment process a positive result is achieved in women, then it is necessary to return to the previous norm. As for protein, its intake should not exceed 20-30 g. An important point is the introduction of essential amino acids. In order to consume enough of them, you need to drink two chicken eggs daily.

Treatment of kidney failure with folk remedies

In the early stages, treatment of renal failure with folk remedies is very effective. Experts recommend using infusions and decoctions of plants that have a diuretic effect. We are talking about birch buds, lingonberry leaves, horsetail, string, black currant leaves, chamomile, and kidney tea. It is acceptable to use mint, corn silk, St. John's wort and other plants or collections from them. However, in this case, do not forget about the need for preliminary consultation with a doctor. Please note, however, that the use of some traditional medicine can be extremely dangerous for the human body. Especially if we are talking about such a serious illness. Traditional medicine, together with its methods, is more of an auxiliary treatment than a primary one.The responsibility for how to treat the disease lies only with you, because you are the one who needs working kidneys for life.