Examining Chronic Kidney Disease and the Silent Progression

A chronic Kidney Disease diagnosis may change your life for good. However, knowing the complexity of the disease and its treatment options can provide optimism and better living conditions for those suffering from this disease. One of the primary factors used for CKD diagnosis is the amount of creatinine levels present in the blood. A high level of creatinine may suggest kidney disease.

Creatinine levels that are elevated and are typical for people suffering from CKD are caused by the kidneys' inability to eliminate the waste efficiently. Creatinine is a waste product generated by the metabolism of muscle and is usually eliminated by healthy kidneys. The increased levels of creatinine could be an indication of declining kidney function as well as the possibility of progression to kidney failure.

A renal failure diagnosis is based on different tests, such as urine and blood tests, imaging studies and assessment of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The assessment of the stage of CKD is vital to determining the most effective treatment. CKD stages vary between stages 1-5, and stage 1, the most serious, is stage 5, signalling the presence of an end-stage renal disease (ESRD).