Conditions & Treatments

Chronic Kidney Disease - Treatments

Once chronic kidney disease is advanced, it usually will progress to end-stage kidney failure. Nevertheless, some common treatments can benefit most patients with established kidney disease.

General Measures:

Restrict salt intake and lose weight if you are overweight
Keeping blood sugar in a healthy range if you have diabetes
Quit smoking, if you smoke
Avoid medicines known as "nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs" or NSAIDs.
Treat hypertension (high blood pressure)
It is important to treat high blood pressure. Regular clinic visits or home blood pressure monitoring gives the doctor the needed information to adjust blood pressure medications to suit the patients' needs and achieve appropriate blood pressure levels. Apart from reducing the progression of kidney disease, blood pressure control has the significant added advantage of reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Anti-proteinuric therapy
Some kidney diseases are associated with protein loss in the urine. Certain medications can decrease/lower the amount of protein excreted in the urine. This group of drugs (called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers) needs to be prescribed by a doctor. These drugs are usually prescribed more commonly in the early stage of chronic kidney disease. While on this treatment, the patient will need to have regular checks of the kidney function. This group of medications can effectively reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease. Not all patients are suitable for this form of treatment, nor do all patients tolerate this medication equally well. They can be associated with intolerable cough, and like any medications, may cause some patients to develop an allergic rash.

What happens when the kidneys stop working (end-stage kidney disease)

Chronic kidney disease can progressively worsen over time. Some patients will eventually need to consider starting dialysis or getting a kidney transplant . Planning for dialysis in advance is an important component of treatment for patients with CKD. There are two types of dialysis: haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Some patients may choose not to start dialysis when it is unlikely to extend their life or improve quality of life.