
Doctors have staged the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) from stage 1 to stage 5 in the increasing order of its severity. These stages are based on your glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
GFR is a test that is used to check the functioning of your kidneys. Its results are in the form of mL/min, which is the amount of blood that passes through each filtering unit (glomeruli) of the kidney in a minute.
The GFR is calculated from your serum creatinine levels, your body size, age, sex, and ethnicity.
Table 1. Stages of CKD with corresponding GFR and kidney function
Stages of CKD | GFR in mL/min | Status of kidney function |
Stage 1 | ≥90 | Normal kidney function |
Stage 2 | 60-89 | A mild decline in kidney function |
Stage 3 | 30-59 | A moderate decline in kidney function |
Stage 4 | 15-29 | A severe decline in kidney function |
Stage 5 | <15 | Kidney failure or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis |
What causes chronic kidney disease?
CKD happens when 85-90% of your kidney gets damaged and becomes functionally impaired. CKD is caused by a variety of conditions that gradually affect the kidney’s functions over a few to several years.
The conditions that cause chronic kidney disease include
- Diabetes (common cause)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Inflammation of the kidney’s structural units
- Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the glomeruli)
- Interstitial nephritis (an inflammation of the kidney's tubules and surrounding structures)
- Polycystic kidney disease (multiple cysts or fluid-containing sacs in the kidney that occur by birth)
- Prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract by conditions, such as
- Pyelonephritis (bacterial infection of the kidney)
- Painkiller consumption over a long time
What are the signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease?
Patients with CKD stages 1-3 generally do not have symptoms. Typically, signs and symptoms start appearing during the last stages of 4-5 (GFR < 30). These include:
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Drowsiness
- Changes in how much you urinate
- Muscle cramps
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Itching
- Dry skin or darkened skin
- Shortness of breath
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Difficulty concentrating

QUESTION
The only purpose of the kidneys is to filter blood. See AnswerHow is chronic kidney disease diagnosed?
The doctor will take your complete medical history along with your family history, such as if anyone in your family has or had diabetes, whether you are on any medications (that can cause kidney damage), and so on. They will perform a thorough physical examination to see if you have any signs or symptoms of CKD.
A few tests will help your doctor confirm the diagnosis of CKD. These are:
- Kidney function tests: This test will look at your creatinine levels to check if you have trouble with your kidney.
- Blood tests: Low hemoglobin levels are found in CKD.
- Urine test: This will be done particularly to check for the presence of protein or persistent protein (proteinuria) in the urine, which is a sign of kidney damage. Other things that the doctor will look for include red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs).
- Ultrasonography: To check for any cysts or scarring or size of the kidney.
Latest Healthy Living News
Daily Health News
Trending on MedicineNet
What are the complications of CKD?
CKD can affect many systems of your body. Some of its complications are:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Pulmonary edema (fluid in your lungs)
- Cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms due to a sudden rise in potassium levels)
- Heart diseases
- Osteopenia (weakening of bones)
- Anemia (low hemoglobin level/low blood count)
- Erectile dysfunction
Can chronic kidney disease be cured?
There is no cure for CKD. However, treatments and an appropriate diet (low-protein, low-salt) can help manage its signs and symptoms. They can help you halt the progression of CKD to a certain extent.
Medications given to treat the complications of CKD can help you make feel better.
There are two main treatments for kidney failure:
- Dialysis: Dialysis is a procedure in which a machine placed outside of your body takes the role of a kidney. This procedure needs to be performed at least three times a week.
- Kidney transplant: A damaged kidney is replaced with a healthy kidney taken from a donor.

SLIDESHOW
Kidney Stones: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment See SlideshowHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top What Are the 5 Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease? Related Articles
10 Foods to Eat If You Have Addison's Disease
What is Addison's disease and how can you manage it? Learn which 10 foods can help manage your Addison's disease symptoms.Diabetes and Kidney Disease
In the United States diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure. High blood pressure and high levels of blood glucose increase the risk that a person with diabetes will eventually progress to kidney failure. Kidney disease in people with diabetes develops over the course of many years. albumin and eGFR are two key markers for kidney disease in people with diabetes. Controlling high blood pressure, blood pressure medications, a moderate protein diet, and compliant management of blood glucose can slow the progression of kidney disease. For those patients who's kidneys eventually fail, dialysis or kidney transplantation is the only option.What Is the Difference Between Nephritis and Nephrosis?
What is the difference between nephritis and nephrosis?How Do I Get Rid of a Cyst on My Kidney?
Learn what medical treatments can help get rid of your kidney cysts and speed up your recovery.Hypertension-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease
Hypertension-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-standing kidney condition that develops over time due to persistent or uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension).Is Kidney Cancer Curable?
Kidney cancer is an uncontrolled division of cells (cancer) that begins in the kidney. How curable is a particular cancer depends on its stage, its cell type, and the stage at which it is diagnosed.Kidney Cancer
There are several types of kidney cancer, including renal cell cancer (renal adenocarcinoma or hypernephroma), transitional cell carcinoma, and Wilms tumor. Symptoms of kidney cancer include blood in the urine, an abdominal lump or mass, chronic pain in the side, and tiredness. Treatment of kidney cancer -- which may include surgery, arterial embolization, radiation therapy, biological therapy or chemotherapy -- depends upon the stage of the disease and the patient's overall health.Hypertensive Kidney Disease
High blood pressure can damage the kidneys and is one of the leading causes of kidney failure (end-stage renal kidney disease). Kidney damage, like hypertension, can be unnoticeable and detected only through medical tests. If you have kidney disease, you should control your blood pressure. Other treatment options include prescription medications.Kidney Disease Quiz
Kidney disease is common. Take this kidney disease quiz to test your knowledge and learn the symptoms, causes and types of kidney disease and what foods to eat and avoid!Kidney Pain: Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes
Kidney pain has a variety of causes and symptoms. Infection, injury, trauma, bleeding disorders, kidney stones, and less common conditions may lead to kidney pain. Symptoms associated with kidney pain may include fever, vomiting, nausea, flank pain, and painful urination. Treatment of kidney pain depends on the cause of the pain.Kidneys Picture
The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the back of the abdomen. See a picture of the Kidneys and learn more about the health topic.Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized by numerous cysts in the kidneys. Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder. There are two major inherited forms of PKD, autosomal dominant PKD, and autosomal recessive PKD. Symptoms include headaches, urinary tract infections, blood in the urine, liver and pancreatic cysts, abnormal heart valves, high blood pressure, kidney stones, aneurysms, and diverticulosis. Diagnosis of PKD is generally with ultrasound, CT or MRI scan. There is no cure for PKD, so treatment of symptoms is usually the general protocol.What Are the Signs That Something Is Wrong With My Kidneys?
Most of the signs of kidney diseases are unnoticed, ignored, or appear very late in the disease. Over 37 million American adults have kidney diseases, and most are not aware of it.Ways to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy
You might know that more than a drink or two a day is bad for your health. But in some cases, any alcohol at all may not be a great idea.What Foods Help Repair Kidneys?
If you have chronic kidney disease, it is crucial to track food and fluid intake because diseased kidneys can’t remove waste products from the body like healthy kidneys can. Good foods that help repair your kidneys include apples, blueberries, fish, kale, spinach and sweet potatoes.