Divya Arora The short answer A lupus nephritis flare means that kidney inflammation related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has become more active. A flare may cause more protein in the urine, blood in the urine, rising creatinine, falling kidney function, or new/worsening high blood pressure. However, no single symptom or blood test can reliably prove that … Read more
The short answer Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) describes a group of conditions in which problems with the heart and kidneys affect each other. Heart failure can worsen kidney function, while chronic kidney disease (CKD) can increase the strain on the heart and make heart failure more difficult to manage. This is not simply a matter of … Read more
Muscle cramps can occur in people with kidney disease, but they are not caused by one single problem. Changes in electrolytes, fluid balance, nerve and muscle function, medications, reduced blood flow, and dialysis can all contribute. Having CKD and experiencing cramps does not automatically mean your kidney disease is getting worse. The useful question is … Read more
The short answer: Fatigue and “brain fog” are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but they do not automatically mean that uremic toxins are building up. Several different problems can produce the same symptoms. Anemia is one important cause. Reduced kidney function can decrease production of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that tells the bone marrow … Read more
The short answer: Advanced kidney dysfunction can cause uremic fetor, an unusual breath odor that may smell ammonia-like, along with a metallic, bitter, or unpleasant taste. This happens partly because the kidneys normally remove urea from the blood. When kidney function becomes severely reduced, more urea can remain in the circulation and enter saliva, where … Read more
The short answer: Swelling in the feet, ankles, or face can occur when the body retains more sodium and water than it can remove. CKD is one possible cause, but edema is not specific to kidney disease. Heart failure, liver disease, venous problems, medications, low blood protein, and other conditions can also cause it. If … Read more
The short answer Chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is persistent or recurrent itching that can occur with CKD, especially in advanced kidney disease and dialysis. It is often called uremic pruritus, but that name can be misleading: the itching is not simply caused by one toxin building up in the blood. Several factors may contribute, … Read more
The short answer: In chronic kidney disease (CKD), statins and fibrates serve different purposes. Statins are primarily used to reduce cardiovascular risk and are generally the foundation of lipid treatment for appropriate patients with CKD. Fibrates are more effective at lowering triglycerides, but their use becomes more complicated as kidney function declines because they can … Read more
The short answer: Statins are generally an important part of cardiovascular risk management for many people with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD). Having CKD does not automatically make statins unsafe or mean they will damage the kidneys. The important distinction is that statins are used mainly to reduce cardiovascular risk, not to directly … Read more
The short answer Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can cause acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), a form of inflammatory kidney injury, but this is an uncommon complication. It does not mean that everyone taking a PPI will develop kidney disease. Common PPIs include omeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, and rabeprazole. They reduce stomach acid and are widely used … Read more