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Does Kidney Failure Affect All Other Parts Of The Body?

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Posted on Wed, 11 Oct 2017
Question: Dr. XXXXXXX Bansal, Can you please elaborate please on “the urea and creatinine don’t only remain in blood but they deposit in tissues and here they slowly damage at cellular level, but this damage is not evident till a crisis develops” (4/8/17)
1.     I imagine ALL cells within the body would be affected by this damage – Skin, main organs, central nervous system and brain. Would that be a fair thought?
2.     What would constitute a ‘crisis’ to show up the damage?

Many thanks. I am really trying to get a lay understanding of damage a 30 day, very low kidney function could cause and which organs / systems are likely to be affected first and to what extent. I realise that every case would be different and I would appreciate any links or places I could get more information.
Kind regards, XXXXXXX
PS: I apologise for the delay in asking followup questions Life sometimes gets in the way.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ravi Bansal (3 days later)
Brief Answer:
Kidney failure does affect all body parts

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Every cell of the body is affected by chronic renal failure because of accumulation of chemicals which the kidney would normally secrete out of the body. Among them, prominent are urea and creatinine but there are more than 20 chemicals which affect the various body parts among them the earliest affected body parts are the bones because of accumulation of acid in the blood the bones get weak and there is a progressive deficiency of vitamin D.

This starts when the kidney function drops by around 50% as the kidney function drops further then the red blood cell formation goes down and there is increased destruction of red blood cells that occurs at around 30% of kidney function. there is effect on the mentation. The brain gets affected at even lower kidney function of around 10 to 15% there is sleep disturbances. There can be disturbances in vision. Disturbances in the functions of muscles and nerves and subsequently there is Gastrointestinal disturbances with lead to vomiting, diarrhoea and decrease appetite. skin disturbances skin changes like dryness of the skin and patches of skin is seen once kidney function goes below 8 to 10%.

The patient can have effects on the heart with slowing of the heart rate with poor cardiac function low blood pressure, pericardial effusion and water accumulation in the body and subsequently multiorgan failure. This shows that kidney failure slowly and steadily can affect all parts of the body. The crisis which can develop include accumulation of water with cardiac failure, brain strokes and repeated vomitings .

You can also google for affects of kidney failure on the human body.

Best wishes

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Ravi Bansal

Nephrologist

Practicing since :1996

Answered : 359 Questions

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Does Kidney Failure Affect All Other Parts Of The Body?

Brief Answer: Kidney failure does affect all body parts Detailed Answer: Hello, Every cell of the body is affected by chronic renal failure because of accumulation of chemicals which the kidney would normally secrete out of the body. Among them, prominent are urea and creatinine but there are more than 20 chemicals which affect the various body parts among them the earliest affected body parts are the bones because of accumulation of acid in the blood the bones get weak and there is a progressive deficiency of vitamin D. This starts when the kidney function drops by around 50% as the kidney function drops further then the red blood cell formation goes down and there is increased destruction of red blood cells that occurs at around 30% of kidney function. there is effect on the mentation. The brain gets affected at even lower kidney function of around 10 to 15% there is sleep disturbances. There can be disturbances in vision. Disturbances in the functions of muscles and nerves and subsequently there is Gastrointestinal disturbances with lead to vomiting, diarrhoea and decrease appetite. skin disturbances skin changes like dryness of the skin and patches of skin is seen once kidney function goes below 8 to 10%. The patient can have effects on the heart with slowing of the heart rate with poor cardiac function low blood pressure, pericardial effusion and water accumulation in the body and subsequently multiorgan failure. This shows that kidney failure slowly and steadily can affect all parts of the body. The crisis which can develop include accumulation of water with cardiac failure, brain strokes and repeated vomitings . You can also google for affects of kidney failure on the human body. Best wishes