Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease

by Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH

En Español (Spanish Version)

In its early phases, chronic kidney disease usually doesn’t cause symptoms. However, as the condition progresses to the end-stage renal disease stage, it can cause a number of symptoms, including:

Feeling weak or tired
Trouble sleeping
Swelling of feet and ankles
Poor appetite
Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
Muscle cramping at night
Nausea
Itching
Shortness of breath
Metallic taste in mouth
Chest pain
Altered mental state
Hiccups
Irritability
Problem with concentration
Reduced libido
Menstrual irregularities
Numbness and tingling in hands and feet

REFERENCES:

Are you at increased risk for chronic kidney disease? National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/11-10-1814.pdf . Accessed September 10, 2011.

Chronic kidney disease: patient information handout. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydocto... . Accessed September 10, 2011.

National Kidney Foundation. Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) clinical practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease: evaluation, classification, and stratification. Am J Kidney Dis. 2002;39:S1-266.

Snyder S, Pendergraph B. Detection and evaluation of chronic kidney disease. Am Fam Physicians. 2005;72:723-732.

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Last reviewed September 2012 by Adrienne Carmack, MD
Last Updated: 09/30/2012

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