Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means your kidneys aren’t working as well as they should over time. The kidneys filter waste and extra fluid from your blood, and when they slow down or stop working properly, waste can build up in your body.

CKD develops gradually. It can lead to serious problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, or even kidney failure if not treated early.

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease

Many people with early-stage CKD don’t feel any symptoms. As the disease gets worse, you may notice:

Swelling in your legs, ankles, or around your eyes
Changes in how often you urinate or how your urine looks
Feeling very tired or weak
Muscle cramps, especially at night
Trouble sleeping or concentrating
Loss of appetite or nausea

If you have any of these signs, talk to your doctor. Regular blood and urine tests can detect kidney problems early.

What Causes CKD?

The most common causes of chronic kidney disease include:

High blood pressure
Diabetes
Family history of kidney disease
Autoimmune conditions like lupus
Long-term use of certain medications, such as NSAIDs

Knowing the cause helps our team plan the right treatment to slow or stop the disease from getting worse.

Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

CKD is divided into five stages, based on how well your kidneys filter waste (measured by eGFR):

Stage 1–2: Mild loss of kidney function, often without symptoms
Stage 3: Moderate kidney damage; symptoms may start to appear
Stage 4: Severe damage; preparing for possible dialysis or transplant
Stage 5: Kidney failure; may require dialysis or a kidney transplant

Monitoring the stage of CKD helps us adjust your care and protect your remaining kidney function.

UR Medicine's Treatments for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

How Is CKD Diagnosed?

Doctors use the following tests to diagnose and monitor chronic kidney disease:

Blood tests to check creatinine and eGFR (how well your kidneys filter waste)
Urine tests for protein or blood in your urine
Imaging like ultrasound to look at the size and shape of your kidneys
In some cases, a kidney biopsy may be done to find the exact cause

Our team uses the latest tools to detect CKD early and track your progress over time.

Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment Options

There is no cure for CKD, but with early care, you can slow or stop it from getting worse. Your treatment plan may include:

Controlling blood pressure and blood sugar
Medications to reduce protein in the urine and protect kidney function
Lifestyle changes, like a kidney-friendly diet and quitting smoking
Seeing a nephrologist, a kidney specialist, for regular care
Staying hydrated, especially during summer months
Preparing for dialysis or transplant, if needed in later stages

At UR Medicine, we create a care plan tailored to your health, lifestyle, and goals.

What Sets Us Apart?

Our nephrology team care for a large volume of patients, and our providers are very familiar with rare and complex kidney diseases.

Our collaborative approach brings a wide range of expertise and diverse perspectives to patient care. Our nationally-recognized specialists in cardiology, endocrinology, rheumatology, transplant surgery, and urology work together to develop the best treatments for you.

Because we’re an academic medical center, our physicians also lead important research studies, with significant grants from the National Institutes of Health and industry-sponsored clinical trials.