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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > Chronic Renal Failure: Prevention & Expectations
      Category : Health Centers > Urinary System & Kidneys

Chronic Renal Failure

Alternate Names : CRF, Chronic Kidney Failure

Chronic Renal Failure | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring | Pictures and Images | Attribution


What can be done to prevent the disease?

Very little can be done to prevent chronic renal failure, other than preventing the underlying disease that causes it. But the best ways to slow the progression of this disease are:

  • to control blood pressure using ACE inhibitor medicine that reduces the protein overflow in urine
  • to keep blood glucose in a healthy range if a person has diabetes
  • What are the long-term effects of the disease?

    The long-term effects include:

  • calcium and phosphorus abnormalities, which may lead to many kinds of bone diseases
  • electrolyte disturbances, especially with potassium. Electrolytes are compounds or elements that the body needs in order to function.
  • generalized swelling due to the body's inability to get rid of extra fluids
  • high blood pressure
  • inability to get rid of the acids produced from protein digestion
  • increased susceptibility to infections
  • irregular periods and decreased sex drive
  • low levels of hemoglobin, called anemia
  • malnutrition
  • progression or development of heart disease
  • progression to end-stage renal disease

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    Chronic Renal Failure: Diagnosis & Tests

     

    Chronic Renal Failure: Treatment & Monitoring

    Author: Rajnish K. Dhingra, MD
    Reviewer: Lisa Sterling, PharmD
    Date Reviewed: 02/11/02









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    Page Last Updated: 30th May, 2006