Chronic kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney failure, chronic renal disease, or chronic renal failure describes the gradual loss of kidney function over a period of several years.
Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.
In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may have few signs or symptoms. Chronic kidney disease may not become apparent until your kidney function is significantly impaired. Treatment is aimed at stopping or slowing down the progression of the disease, and this is usually done by controlling its underlying cause.
Some of the causes of chronic renal/kidney failure include diabetes, stenosis of the kidney artery, systemic lupus erythematosus, toxins, overuse of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), illegal drug abuse, and obstructed urine flow from an enlarged prostate, kidney stones or a tumor.