Can chronic kidney disease be reversed?

The kidneys filter waste, balance fluid and salts, and support blood pressure control. Chronic kidney disease means this work has been reduced or kidney damage has persisted over time. A temporary problem, such as dehydration, an infection, or a medicine effect, can sometimes make kidney tests worse and then improve when addressed. Established scarring is less likely to disappear. Your clinician may follow blood and urine tests to distinguish a reversible change from ongoing disease. Kidney disease can occur alongside hypertension, type 2 diabetes, anaemia or gout; treating these related problems may reduce strain on the kidneys.

Arrange a review to identify the cause and understand your kidney blood and urine results. Take prescribed medicines as directed, and do not stop them because a result has changed without medical advice. Ask before using anti-inflammatory painkillers, supplements, or herbal products, since some can affect kidney function. Follow the fluid, salt, protein, and blood-pressure advice suited to you rather than adopting a restrictive diet independently. Keep diabetes and blood pressure checks up to date, and report new swelling, changes in urination, unusual tiredness, or persistent thirst.

Seek urgent medical help for severe breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, fainting, or very little urine. Contact a clinician promptly if vomiting or diarrhoea prevents you from drinking, swelling appears quickly, or you become markedly weaker. A sudden change can be different from your usual chronic kidney disease and may need same-day assessment.

Which cause or contributors are affecting my kidney function? Which blood and urine results will we track? Should any medicine, painkiller, supplement, fluid plan, or diet change be adjusted? What symptoms should prompt an urgent call?