Chronic Kidney Disease Care | Orlando, FL

Chronic Kidney Disease

A man is sitting at a table talking to a doctor who is wearing a mask.

At Central Florida Kidney Specialists, we are dedicated to providing the most advanced, effective care for the treatment and management of chronic kidney disease. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, chronic kidney disease:

Affects a large percentage of the U.S. population.
Has left more than 660,000 Americans with kidney failure.
Is responsible for almost 500,000 individuals being on dialysis care.

So, what is chronic kidney disease (CKD)? What causes it? What are its different types? At CFLKS, we want you to know everything you need to know about CKD, because it is the first step in understanding your risks, what you can do about them, and how you can prevent, slow and manage chronic kidney disease. Get informed and take ownership of your kidney health.

What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?

We provide a full range of diagnostic services, including:Chronic kidney disease is a condition characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function over time.

Chronic kidney disease develops when the kidneys have been damaged by conditions or diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), or inflammation of the kidneys’ filtration anatomy (glomerulonephritis or vasculitis).

Early detection of chronic kidney disease is important to slow the progression of CKD and a nephrologist should be consulted. While you typically cannot reverse damage, in stages 1 and 2, it is possible to prevent further damage and maintain kidney function. Changes in lifestyle and diet, along with regular checkups, can help keep the kidneys from further deterioration. Stages 3, 4 or 5 CKD are when your kidney function is moderately to severely reduced. During these stages, it is most likely when you will experience physical changes. If you have not been evaluated by a nephrologist, it is extremely important that you make an appointment with a nephrologist, like the experienced, reputable physicians at Central Florida Kidney Specialists.

What Causes CKD?

The two most common causes are diabetes (types 1 and 2) and high blood pressure Other causes include:

Glomerulonephritis or Vasculitis—inflammation of the glomeruli (the kidneys’ filtering units) or the blood vessels.
Proteinuria or Albuminuria—abnormal amounts of protein in the urine, specifically due to protein overproduction. (Proteinuria can also be a symptom of CKD.)
Polycystic kidney disease and other inherited kidney diseases.
Systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune disorders.
Chronic kidney infections.
Hydronephrosis—swelling of the kidney which causes an obstruction of the flow of urine from the kidney.
Kidney stones.

The Five Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

To identify the extent of kidney damage, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is classified into multiple stages. These five stages are determined by measuring a patient’s glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Your GFR number indicates how much kidney function you have. As chronic kidney disease worsens, the GFR number decreases.

Stage 1

Onset CKD, GFR of 90 or greater

Description: In this stage, you have normal kidney function, but tests show signs of kidney damage. There are often little or no symptoms of kidney damage in Stage 1.

Stage 2

Mild CKD, GFR of 60-89

Description: In Stage 2, kidney function is mildly reduced, and there are some signs of kidney damage.

Stage 3

Moderate CKD, GFR of 30-59

Description: Stage 3 is when kidney function is moderately reduced. This is the beginning of some symptoms and moderate physical changes. Stage 3 is separated into two stages:

Stage 3a means you have a GFR between 45 and 59
Stage 3b means you have a GFR between 30 and 44

Stage 4

Advanced CKD, GFR of 15-29

Description: In Stage 4, there is reduced kidney function, requiring treatment and management by your kidney doctor. At this stage, we recommend that patients attend our patient education classes to learn about their treatment options such as living donation, dialysis, kidney transplant or conservative treatment.

Stage 5

End-Stage CKD, GFR of less than 15

Description: In Stage 5, survival depends on getting dialysis or a kidney transplant. Central Florida Kidney Specialists is leading the industry in kidney care throughout Central Florida.

Three Simple Tests Can Detect Chronic Kidney Disease

A yearly checkup with your primary care physician is the most effective way to monitor your risk. Early detection and treatment can prevent or slow the progression of kidney disease.

Three tests to detect kidney problems are:

Blood pressure measurement
Urinalysis to evaluate abnormal protein, blood or cells in the urine
Blood test to measure the level of creatinine, waste products and toxins in the blood. Ahigh level of creatinine indicates that the kidneys are not functioning well. This test result is often reported as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).