Complications of Chronic Renal Failure
In chronic renal failure, the kidneys are permanently damaged and unable to function. A slow process that gets worse over time, chronic renal failure affects the function of the body's system. When kidneys are damaged, they lose the ability to remove extra fluid and waste from the blood, which can lead to complications such as anemia, bone disorders, distal renal tubular acidosis and coronary heart disease.
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Anemia
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The production of erythropoietin is an important function of the kidneys. Erythropoietin is the hormone that instructs bones to make red blood cells. In chronic renal failure, the kidneys are unable to produce enough erythropoietin, which causes anemia. Anemia is when the blood does not carry the right amount of oxygen to the rest of the body.
Bone Disorders
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In order for bones to remain strong, healthy kidneys balance the levels of phosphorus and calcium in the blood. However, chronic renal failure can cause the minerals (phosphorus and calcium) in the bones to become unbalanced. When bones lack the proper amount of minerals, it can result in bone disorders, which slow the growth of the bone and cause deformities, such as renal rickets (the legs bend outward away from each other and inward toward each other).
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Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis
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The kidneys regulate the body's acid-base balancing (pH). During the filtering process of the kidneys, acid is properly removed from the urine to avoid an overflow of acid in the bloodstream. In chronic renal failure, distal renal tubular acidosis occurs when the kidney's tubes cause acid buildup in the bloodstream, leaving the blood too acidic. The bones may become thin and weak over time, leading to bone and joint pain or an increase in bone fractures.
Coronary Heart Disease
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Chronic renal failure can cause coronary heart disease (heart attacks), the major cause of death in people with chronic renal failure. Coronary heart disease is also a chronic illness and serious disorder. The risk of developing coronary heart disease can double with any loss of kidney function.
Risks
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Diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and a family history of chronic renal disease can increase the risk of chronic renal failure. According to the National Kidney Foundation, African-Americans, Asians, American Indians Pacific Islanders and Hispanic Americans are at a higher risk for chronic renal failure because of the high rate of hypertension and diabetes in the population group.
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