Definition

End-stage kidney disease is a complete or near complete failure of the kidneys to function to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, and regulateelectrolytes. Also called End-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Alternative Names

Renal failure - end stage; Kidney failure - end stage; ESRD

Causes

End-stage kidney disease occurs when thekidneys are no longer able to function at a level that is necessary for day to day life. It usually occurs as chronic renal failure progresses to the point where kidney function is less than 10% of baseline. At this point, the kidney function is so low that without dialysis or kidney transplantation, complications are multiple and severe, and death will occur from accumulation of fluids and waste products in the body.

In the United States, nearly 300,000 people are on long-term dialysis and more than 20,000 have a functioning transplanted kidney. The most common cause of ESRD in the US is diabetes. ESRD almost always follows chronic kidney failure, which may exist for 10 to 20 years or more before progression to ESRD.

Review Date: 10/17/2003
Reviewed By: Irfan A. Agha, M.D., Department of Medicine, Renal Division, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.