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0 Impaired Renal Function | In patients with renal insufficiency, the three major functions of the kidney are no longer ensured effectively. The resulting health problems are very diverse and can be serious. Function by function, here are the main risks associated with kidney failure.
As its name suggests, kidney failure is a loss of efficiency of the kidneys, which can no longer perform their role properly. The health problems that then appear are a direct result of the loss of the three kidney functions.
1. THE KIDNEYS NO LONGER ENSURE THEIR ROLE AS A FILTER
The waste normally evacuated in the urine is no longer. Uric acid, urea, creatinine and other toxic substances build up in the blood. This poisoning can lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and even more serious disorders: mental confusion, mental disorders and coma.
2. THE KIDNEYS DON’T REGULATE AS WELL ANYMORE
The kidneys no longer eliminate excess water from the body quickly enough. Fluid builds up and causes swelling. In the most severe cases, water accumulates in the lungs and causes “acute pulmonary edema”, or APO, which can be fatal.
The poor elimination of mineral salts – sodium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium – causes various imbalances, and can cause complications, especially in the heart, such as heart rhythm disorders.
3. THE KIDNEYS NO LONGER PRODUCE HORMONES
Erythropoietin secretion decreases. Better known as EPO, this hormone is responsible for the production of red blood cells. As a result, the number of red blood cells decreases, and anemia sets in, responsible for fatigue and shortness of breath.
The decrease in renin secretion by the kidneys causes arterial hypertension, or aggravates hypertension that already exists. This increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and accidents, such as angina pectoris, stroke or myocardial infarction, for example.
Finally, the kidneys also play a role in bone construction through vitamin D. When they can no longer perform this function, bone fragility develops, and the patient may suffer from osteoporosis.
These complications are not inevitable, even if kidney failure is a chronic disease that cannot be cured.
With appropriate care, it is possible to stabilize the disease, compensate for the loss of certain functions, and limit the onset of complications.
Renal insufficiency leads to lower but not zero fertility in patients. Such a pregnancy presents risks for the mother as well as for the child and requires reinforced multidisciplinary follow-up.
4. FERTILITY / INFERTILITY
Renal insufficiency leads to lower but not zero fertility in patients. Such a pregnancy presents significant risks for both mother and child and requires reinforced multidisciplinary follow-up. Good cooperation between the nephrologist, the high-risk pregnancy unit and the neonatology team is essential to ensure the best possible follow-up for both mother and baby.
Newborn visits and examinations should be much more frequent than recommended in a normal pregnancy.
If you are on dialysis
You should know that pregnancy can aggravate existing kidney failure and cardiovascular problems. Given the significant risks for the baby, women on dialysis who wish to have a child are advised to wait to be transplanted.
If you are transplanted
It is recommended not to embark on a pregnancy without informing your nephrologist so that he explains beforehand all the risks and complications incurred. Even if the baby’s chances of survival are greater, pregnancy in a transplanted woman remains a difficult pregnancy.
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