Chronic Kidney Disease: When Kidneys Fail Silently
850 million people affected worldwide
Dr. Rachid Hamidi
Nephrologist
The vital role of the kidneys
The kidneys filter 180 liters of blood per day, eliminating waste and excess fluid. They also regulate blood pressure, red blood cell production, and bone metabolism. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) develops when the kidneys gradually lose their filtering capacity.
Main causes
Diabetes (40% of cases) and high blood pressure (25%) are the two leading causes of CKD worldwide. Glomerulonephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and abuse of anti-inflammatories are other common causes.
Silent progression
CKD is divided into 5 stages according to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Stages 1 to 3 are often asymptomatic. Symptoms appear late: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, edema, itching, anemia. At stage 5 (GFR < 15 ml/min), dialysis or kidney transplantation become necessary.
Prevention and treatment
Control diabetes and hypertension, limit salt and animal proteins, quit smoking, avoid nephrotoxic agents (NSAIDs). SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin) have shown significant renal benefit, slowing CKD progression. Screening by creatinine measurement and proteinuria testing is essential in at-risk individuals.
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