Chronic Renal Failure

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in the beginning of chronic renal failure, there are virtually no symptoms; however, the progression of the disease can cause an increase in blood pressure, an accumulation of potassium in the blood, an accumulation of urea, anemia, fatigue, an overload of fluid volume, cardiac arrhythmia and vascular calcification. The author points out that, at end-stage of renal disease, renal replacement therapy, such as kidney dialysis and even kidney transplant, is required to keep the patient alive. The paper relates that patients with chronic renal failure also have a high incidence of atherosclerosis, which usually accelerates at a faster rate, and of cardiovascular disease, which has a prognosis that is not as good as someone without chronic renal failure.

From the Paper:

"Sometimes, the levels of serum creatinine have not been measured in the past, and therefore the patient is often first treated as having acute renal failure. Only when blood tests continue to show elevated serum creatinine levels and it is determined that the renal failure is irreversible will the diagnosis be made as chronic renal failure as opposed to the previously assumed acute renal failure. A numerous amount of uremic toxins also accumulate in individuals that have chronic renal failure and are involved in the treatment of standard dialysis."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ruggenenti, P., Perna, A., Gherardi, G., Gaspari, F., Benini, R., Remuzzi, G. (1998). Renal function and requirement for dialysis in chronic nephropathy patients on long-term ramipril: Rein follow-up trial. Lancet, 352(9136), 1252-1256.
• Ruggenenti, P., Perna, A., Gherardi, G., Garini, G., Zoccali, C., Salvadori, M., Scolari, F., Schena, F.P., Remuzzi, G. (1999). Renoprotective properties of ACE-inhibition in non-diabetic nephropathies with non-nephrotic proteinuria. Lancet, 354(9176), 359-364.
• Vernon, S. & Pfeifer, G.M. (2003). Blood management strategies for critical care patients. Critical Care Nurse, 23(6), 34-41.

More papers on Chronic Renal Failure:

• Essay # 83596 : "End-Stage Chronic Renal Failure"
• Research Paper # 64183 : "Acute Renal Failure"
• Case Study # 104545 : "Nursing and Renal Failure"

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