Kidney Failure

Kidney failure is when your kidneys stop working well enough for you to live without dialysis or a kidney transplant.  There are two kinds of kidney failure:

Acute Renal Failure

This is when kidney failure happens very quickly.  Injuries, major blood loss and some reactions to medicines can cause acute kidney failure.  In some cases, this kind of kidney failure may get better.  But if your kidneys are very badly damaged, this kind of kidney failure can be permanent.

End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

ESRD is when kidney failure is permanent.  This kind of kidney failure cannot get better.  Most cases of ESRD are caused by diabetes or high blood pressure.  Some problems you are born with, some reactions to medicines, and some injuries can also cause ESRD. 

Click here to learn more about ESRD.

If you have kidney failure, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.  Talk to your doctor about what kind of treatment is best for you.  You can also:

Click here to learn more about hemodialysis.

Click here to learn more about peritoneal dialysis.

Click here to learn more about kidney transplant.