Treating chronic kidney disease
Although there is no cure for kidney disease, treatment can help relieve symptoms, slow or prevent progression of the condition, and reduce the risk of developing related problems.
Your treatment will depend on the stage of your chronic kidney disease (CKD). Stages one, two and three CKD can usually be treated by your GP.
Treatment involves making changes to your lifestyle and, in some cases, taking medication to control your blood pressure and lower your blood cholesterol levels. This should help prevent further damage to your kidneys and circulation.
If you have stage four or stage five CKD, you will usually be referred to a specialist. In addition to the treatments above, you may also be given several medications to control or prevent the symptoms of CKD.
Kidney failure, also called established renal failure or ERF, occurs when you have lost nearly all your kidney function and the condition has become life threatening. About 1% of people with stage three CKD develop ERF at some point.
If you have kidney failure, you will need to decide on the next stage of treatment. Your choice will be whether to have treatment with dialysis (a means of artificially replacing some functions of the kidney), a kidney transplant, or other treatment options that involve less intervention, also known as supportive or conservative care.
