The kidneys perform a critical function by filtering and cleaning impurities from your blood, then flushing them out of the body through your urine. Kidney disease happens when one or both of your kidneys fail to filter your blood as they should, allowing extra fluid, waste and electrolytes to build up in your bloodstream.
Typically, chronic kidney disease is broken into five stages. These stages are assessed based on a blood test that will measure your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate). Patients who meet the criteria for each stage will generally have the following results:
The two most common causes of CKD are high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes. Around 70% of Americans will develop high blood pressure in their lifetime, and one in 10 Americans have diabetes. Because these conditions are so common, they are the most likely risk factors for kidney disease.
However, kidney disease can occur because of other less common causes including:
Kidney disease is most often discovered in a primary care provider’s office when routine blood work or a urine sample returns with abnormal results including an elevated creatinine (blood marker of kidney function) or protein in the urine. You may also be referred for kidney testing if you have difficulty controlling your blood pressure, because kidney damage can cause high blood pressure that may not respond to diet changes or common medications. If you have lupus or diabetes, you may be referred to a nephrologist by your rheumatologist or endocrinologist, as these conditions can also affect kidney function.
Once you have been referred, any of the following diagnostic tests may be used to determine whether kidney damage is present and how well your kidneys are functioning:
CKD often cannot be cured, but it can be managed with the goal to slow kidney disease over time. Your nephrologist will create a treatment plan to help address underlying causes, reduce any uncomfortable symptoms and slow the progression of the disease with a goal to head off the need for dialysis, kidney transplant or other complications. Many individuals with controlled CKD can live a normal healthy life if they follow their treatment plan.
Your treatment plan may include:
Our nephrology team focuses on offering comprehensive expertise for chronic kidney disease with emphasis on preventing progression of the disease first. It is our goal to see patients with early-stage kidney disease sooner to help them head off complications and maintain a high quality of life.
For patients who do need more advanced services, Hattiesburg Clinic offers 14+ locations to receive dialysis, including home dialysis options, and consultation for those who may be candidates for a kidney transplant. With more than 450 physicians and 40 different medical specialties, we coordinate your care with your primary care provider and other specialists who can help provide the most comprehensive approach to this complex disease. From vascular surgery to cardiology to endocrinology, Hattiesburg Clinic offers in-house labs and diagnostics, diabetes care, atherosclerosis care and the placement of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis accesses.