End-stage renal disease
End-stage renal disease
End-stage renal disease (ESRD), also known as end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), is the final, most severe stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Pronunciation
End-stage renal disease: /ɛndˈsteɪdʒ ˈriːnəl dɪˈziːz/
Etymology
The term "end-stage" refers to the final phase of a particular condition, while "renal" is derived from the Latin word "renes", meaning kidneys. "Disease" comes from the Old French "desaise", meaning lack of ease.
Definition
ESRD is characterized by a severe reduction in kidney function that is insufficient to maintain life. This stage of kidney disease typically requires dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.
Symptoms
Symptoms of ESRD may include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, and swelling in the legs and ankles.
Causes
The most common causes of ESRD are diabetes and high blood pressure. Other causes can include glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and certain genetic disorders.
Treatment
Treatment for ESRD typically involves either dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis is a procedure that artificially cleans the blood, while a kidney transplant involves replacing the diseased kidney with a healthy one from a donor.
Related Terms
- Chronic kidney disease
- Dialysis
- Kidney transplant
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Glomerulonephritis
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Genetic disorders
This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.