Dr Alvin Ng
Senior Consultant Nephrologist
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (Auckland, New Zealand)
- Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
- Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore (Renal Medicine)
Dr Alvin Ng
Senior Consultant Nephrologist
Chronic kidney disease is a long-term condition in which the kidneys gradually lose its function over time. The kidneys filter blood that passes through tiny filtering apparatus called glomerulus, thus removing waste and excess fluids from the body. When kidney function declines, harmful levels of waste and fluid can build up in the body, leading to a variety of health problems.
Chronic kidney disease is typically divided into five stages based on how well the kidneys are functioning. Blood levels of creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), are used to determine the level of CKD. Mild disease is stage 1, and stage 5 is end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
In early stages, chronic kidney disease does not cause any noticeable symptoms. As CKD progresses over time, it may result in various manifestations. Usually, nephrologists can detect chronic kidney disease not through kidney failure symptoms but via blood or urine tests or from imaging scan of the kidneys.
Chronic kidney disease symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the condition. Some common symptoms of kidney conditions such as this may include:
It is important to note that these chronic kidney disease symptoms can also be caused by other health conditions and can easily be confused with symptoms of acute kidney injury. This is because both are forms of kidney problems and may have similar kidney failure symptoms. Hence, it is crucial to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. If left untreated, chronic kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
CKD is diagnosed through:
Serum creatinine is used as a marker of kidney function. It is a waste product produced by the muscles, filtered by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. The unit of measurement can be either in micromol/L (µmol/L) or mg/dL. An elevated level indicates abnormal kidney function.
Estimated glomerular filtration rate or eGFR is a calculation used to estimate how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. It takes in the age, gender, race and serum creatinine of the patient to determine the eGFR level. Currently, the formula used to calculate eGFR is the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) formula.
To check for blood and/or protein in the urine. This can be a spot urine test or a 24-hour urine collection test.
This can be an ultrasound scan, computed tomography scan (CT scan), or magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI scan).
This is to determine any structural abnormality of the kidneys.
There are several causes of chronic kidney disease, including:
Diabetes is a leading cause of CKD. High blood sugar levels may damage the blood vessels located in the kidneys.
High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels in the filtering system located in the kidneys.
Inflammation of the kidney’s filtering units. This is usually caused by auto-immune conditions.
A generic condition where numerous cysts form in the kidneys, ultimately replacing all the filtering units causing CKD.
Excessive muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), excessive and prolonged use of certain medications, and repeated kidney infections.
If you have a family history of CKD, you may be at an increased risk of developing the condition.
The risk of CKD increases with age.
Being obese or overweight increases the risk of CKD.
Smoking can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys and increase the risk of CKD.
People with cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease or stroke, have an increased risk of CKD
Keep in mind that having one or more of the above risk factors does not mean you will develop chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. However, it is vital to be aware of these risk factors and to take steps to reduce your risk, such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting regular check-ups.
Chronic kidney disease treatments for people with kidney problems will depend on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause. In the early stages of CKD, treatment will focus on controlling the underlying cause of kidney damage and slowing the progression of the disease. This may involve lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. In some cases, medications may be prescribed to help control blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, or improve blood sugar control.
Chronic kidney disease treatments usually require long-term commitment and compliance. If chronic kidney failure progresses to the point where the kidneys are severely damaged and unable to function properly, more advanced kidney failure treatment may be necessary.
This may include:
The kidney failure treatment above will help relieve kidney failure symptoms, such as nausea, lack of appetite, breathlessness, tiredness and lethargy. Consult a kidney specialist today and check on your kidney health!
Reach out to us for a consultation with Dr Alvin Ng.
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Dr Alvin Ng is a senior consultant nephrologist with over two decades of experience in kidney care. Prior to setting up his own practice, Dr Ng was the Director of Peritoneal Dialysis at Changi General Hospital and an executive committee member of the Singapore Society of Nephrology. He has held teaching appointments for medical students and residents; and is also a recipient of various service awards – a testament to the quality of care he provides.
Dr Alvin Ng
Senior Consultant Nephrologist
Kidney Conditions
Kidney Treatments
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