II. Definitions
-
Chronic Kidney Disease
- Abnormal Kidney structure or function lasting more than 3 months, with associated health implications
- Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min OR
- Positive Kidney damage markers (e.g. albuminuria) OR
- Polycystic or dysplastic Kidneys
- End Stage Renal Disease
- Kidney Function not adequate for longterm survival without Dialysis or Renal Transplant
- Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease (GFR <15 ml/min/1.73m2)
III. Causes
IV. Findings
V. Labs
VI. Management: Renal Replacement
- See Chronic Kidney Disease for secondary prevention
-
Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialysis
- See Hemodialysis
- See Peritoneal Dialysis
- Absolute Dialysis Indications
- Uremic Symptoms
- Uremic Pericarditis
- Relative Dialysis Indications
- Hypervolemia
- Hyperkalemia or other Electrolyte abnormalities
- Severe Metabolic Acidosis
- Creatinine Clearance <10 ml/min (<15 ml/min in Diabetes Mellitus)
-
Renal Transplantation
- Improves overall survival and quality of life in comparison to Dialysis and conservative management
- Refer to Renal Transplant when GFR <30 ml/min/1.73m2 to allow for adequate planning, preparation, wait list time
- As of 2020, the median time of Renal Transplant wait list is 4 years
- Less rejection if transplant before Dialysis started
- Conservative management options (palliative approach)
- Optimizes quality of life over prolongation of life
- Survival benefit of Hemodialysis is reduced in elderly and comorbidity
- Uremia symptoms may not significantly improve with Hemodialysis
- Hemodialysis is associated with increased medical interventions
- More than half of chronic Hemodialysis patients regret their decision to undergo Hemodialysis
- Non-Dialysis with Hospice care
- Delayed Dialysis until Creatinine Clearance <5 ml/min (similar morbidity and mortality)
- Optimizes quality of life over prolongation of life
VII. Management: Anemia in ESRD
-
Erythropoietin (EPO)
- Efficacy
- Initial studies showed benefit for Erythropoietin
- Recent studies show no benefit and higher risk of Cerebrovascular Accident
- Outcomes are the same with and without normalized Hemoglobin via erythropoetin
- Morbidity and patient sense of well-being is not improved on erythropoetin
- Pfeffer (2009) N Engl J Med 361 [PubMed]
- Indications for Erythropoeitin
- Hemoglobin <9 to 10 mg/dl
- Do not target a Hemoglobin >11 mg/dl
- Adverse effects
- Increased risk of Cerebrovascular Accident
- Efficacy
-
Iron Supplementation
- Often indicated in Hemodialysis patients
-
Parenteral replacement is often needed (decreased oral absorption)
- Non-Dextran IV Iron
- Indicated in significant Iron Deficiency refractory to oral replacement
- Options: Ferumoxytol (Feraheme), iron sucrose (venafer) or Sodium Ferric Gluconate (Ferrlecit)
- Ferric pyrophosphate (Triferic)
- Available in 2015 (U.S.)
- Indicated for maintenance iron infusion
- May be delivered inline with Hemodialysis
- Non-Dextran IV Iron
- References
- (2015) Presc Lett 22(4)
VIII. Management: Metabolic Bone Disease (Secondary Hyperparathyroidism)
IX. Management: Anorexia and Protein Energy Wasting in ESRD
- Minimize Uremia with adequate Dialysis frequency
- Consider Major Depression, Gastroparesis, and Xerostomia
-
Protein Energy Wasting Findings
- BMI < 23 kg/m2
- Unintentional Weight Loss (>5% over 3 months or >10% over 6 months)
- Serum Albumin <3.8 g/dl
-
General Measures
- Dietician Consultation
- High Protein diet 1.0 to 1.2 g Protein/kg/day in ESRD
- Contrast with the limited Protein diet in Chronic Kidney Disease to prevent progression
- Consider dietary Protein Supplementation
- Medications
- Dronabinol 2.5 mg orally before meals
- Megestro 400 mg orally daily
- Prednisone 10 mg orally daily
X. Management: Symptomatic Management in ESRD
-
Agitation
- Haloperidol 1 mg PO, IV or IM every 12 hours
-
Dyspnea
- Regular Physical Activity to prevent deconditioning
- Fentanyl (Duragesic) 12.5 mg IV or SQ every two hours as needed for end-of-life
-
Fatigue
- Treat Anemia if present
- Consider Depression Management with Fluoxetine 20 mg daily or Sertraline 50 mg daily
-
Nausea and Vomiting
- Minimize Uremia with adequate Dialysis frequency
- Ondansetron 4 mg orally every 8 hours
- Metoclopramide (Reglan) 5 mg twice daily
- Haloperidol (Haloperidol) 0.5 mg orally every 8 hours
-
Pruritus
- Minimize Uremia with adequate Dialysis frequency
- Phosphate Binders
- Standar Dry Skin therapy (e.g. barrier creams)
- Ondansetron 4 mg orally every 8 hours
- Hydroxyzine (Atarax or Vistaril), 25 mg orally every 6 hours
- Naltrexone (Revia) 50 mg orally daily
- Phototherapy (UV-B Light)
-
Insomnia
- See Sleep Hygiene
- Treat Restless Leg Syndrome
- Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- Zolpidem 5 mg orally at bedtime
- Temazepam (Restoril) 15 mg orally at bedtime
XI. Management: Advanced Directives in ESRD
-
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Survival in ESRD is only 8% at hospital discharge and 3% at six months
- Contrast with CPR in non-ESRD with survival of 12% at discharge and 9% at six months
- Discuss Do-Not-Reuscitate status at routine visits
- Hospice
XII. Complications
XIII. Prognosis
- See Chronic Kidney Disease for course
- Annual mortality of ESRD: 24%
- Five Year survival of ESRD
- All ages: 38%
- Age over 65 years: 18%
XIV. References
- (2018) Presc Lett 25(8)
- Golder (2003) AAFP Board Review, Seattle
- (2002) Am J Kidney Dis 39:s1-266 [PubMed]
- Baumgarten (2011) Am Fam Physician 84(10): 1138-48 [PubMed]
- Gaitonde (2017) Am Fam Physician 96(12): 776-83 [PubMed]
- Goodbred (2023) Am Fam Physician 108(6): 554-61 [PubMed]
- Hood (1996) Postgrad Med 100(5):163-75 [PubMed]
- Snyder (2005) Am Fam Physician 72(9):1723-32 [PubMed]
- (2007) Am J Kidney Dis 49(2 suppl 2):S12-S154 [PubMed]
- O'Connor (2012) Am Fam Physician 85(7):705-10 [PubMed]
- Rivera (2012) Am Fam Physician 86(8): 749-54 [PubMed]
- Wouk (2021) Am Fam Physician 104(5): 493-99 [PubMed]