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By Mayo Clinic staffKidney failure usually results from a long-term (chronic) disease that causes kidney damage over a number of years. Common causes of kidney failure include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Kidney inflammation (glomerulonephritis)
- Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis)
- Polycystic kidney disease (cysts in the kidney)
Dialysis is usually needed when you have only 10 to 15 percent of your kidney function left. You may or may not have signs and symptoms of kidney failure (uremia), such as nausea, vomiting, swelling or fatigue. Normally, dialysis begins well before your kidneys have shut down to the point of causing life-threatening complications. However, your kidneys may shut down suddenly (acute kidney failure) following a severe injury, complicated surgery, heart attack or other serious problem.
Dialysis can help control your blood pressure and maintain the proper balance of fluid and various chemicals — such as potassium and sodium — in your body. It can help your body maintain the proper acid-base balance.
Your doctor will help determine when you should start hemodialysis, based on several factors — your overall health, kidney function (as measured by blood and urine tests), signs and symptoms, quality of life, and personal preferences.
- Treatment methods for kidney failure: Hemodialysis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/Kudiseases/pubs/hemodialysis. Accessed Dec. 5, 2008.
- Dialysis in the treatment of renal failure In: Fauci AS, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. United States of America: The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=2881062&print=yes. Accessed Aug. 24, 2008.
- Hemodialysis. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/ATOZ/atozItem.cfm?id=35. Accessed Aug. 24, 2008.
- Berns JS. Patient information: Hemodialysis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 26, 2008.
- Berns JS. Patient information: Renal replacement therapy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 26, 2008.
- Berns JS. Patient information: Chronic kidney disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2008
- Kliger AS. Frequent nocturnal hemodialysis - A step forward? Journal of the American Medical Association. 2007;298:1331.
- Mailloux LU. Dialysis modality and patient outcome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 26, 2008.
- Ricci Z, et al. Dose and efficiency of renal replacement therapy: Continuous replacement therapy versus intermittent hemodialysis versus slow extended daily dialysis. Critical Care Medicine. 2008;36(suppl):S229.
- McFarlane PA, et al. The quality of life and cost utility of home nocturnal and conventional in-center hemodialysis. Kidney International. 2003;64:1004.
