DISEASE SCANNER

Global Incurable Diseases Tracker

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Nephrologic Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease (Stage 4-5)

HIGH SEVERITY

Progressive, irreversible loss of kidney function over months to years. Stage 4 (eGFR 15-29 mL/min) and Stage 5/end-stage renal disease (eGFR <15 mL/min or dialysis). Requires renal replacement therapy. Leading causes: diabetes and hypertension.

Global Affected

850.0M

Countries

111

Symptoms

Fatigue
Fluid retention/edema
Shortness of breath
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Muscle cramps
Itchy skin
Uremic breath
Difficulty concentrating
Sleep disturbances
High blood pressure
Decreased urine output

Treatment Options

Blood pressure control (ACE inhibitors, ARBs)
SGLT2 inhibitors
Finerenone
Phosphate binders
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents
Vitamin D supplementation
Dialysis (hemodialysis, peritoneal)
Kidney transplantation

Risk Factors

1Diabetes
2Hypertension
3Family history of kidney disease
4Age >60
5Cardiovascular disease
6Obesity
7Smoking
8Autoimmune diseases
9Recurrent kidney infections
10Prolonged NSAID use
11Certain ethnicities (African American, Hispanic, Native American)

Diagnostic Methods

  • 1Serum creatinine and eGFR
  • 2Urinalysis
  • 3Albumin-to-creatinine ratio
  • 4Kidney ultrasound
  • 5Kidney biopsy (sometimes)
  • 6Blood pressure monitoring
  • 7Electrolyte panel

Prognosis

Stage 4: high risk of progression to ESRD within months to few years. Stage 5/ESRD: without dialysis/transplant, survival days to weeks. Dialysis 5-year survival ~50%. Kidney transplant 5-year graft survival ~85-90%.

Prevention

  • Diabetes control
  • Blood pressure management
  • Regular screening for at-risk groups
  • Avoid nephrotoxins
  • Smoking cessation
  • Weight management
  • Regular exercise
  • Medication review

Research Status

SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin, empagliflozin) slow progression even in non-diabetic CKD. Finerenone for diabetic kidney disease. Artificial kidney development. Xenotransplantation research. Wearable dialysis devices. Atrasentan for IgA nephropathy.

Sources

  • https://www.cdc.gov/
  • https://www.hematology.org/education/patients
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books
  • https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult healthcare professionals for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.