Symptoms & Signs
Symptoms may include:
- General ill feeling and fatigue
- Generalized itching (pruritus) and dry skin
- Headaches
- Weight loss without trying
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
Other symptoms may develop, including:
- Abnormally dark or light skin and changes in nails
- Bone pain
- Brain and nervous system symptoms
- Drowsiness and confusion
- Problems concentrating or thinking
- Numbness in the hands, feet, or other areas
- Muscle twitching or cramps
- Breath odor
- Easy bruising, nosebleeds, or blood in the stool
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent hiccups
- Low level of sexual interest and impotence
- Menstrual periods stop (amenorrhea)
- Sleep problems, such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, or obstructive sleep apnea
- Swelling of the feet and hands (edema)
- Vomiting, especially in the morning
Diagnosis & Tests
The urine volume may decrease or urine production may stop. The patient will usually have signs of the many complications of chronic kidney disease.
End-stage kidney disease changes the results of many tests. Patients receiving dialysis will need these and other tests done often:
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Albumin
- Phosphorous
- Calcium
- Cholesterol
- Magnesium
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Electrolytes
This disease may also change the results of the following tests:
- Erythropoietin
- PTH
- Bone density test
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End-stage kidney disease : Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
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End-stage kidney disease : Symptoms & Signs, Diagnosis & Tests
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End-stage kidney disease : Treatment
Review Date : 8/12/2009
Reviewed By : Parul Patel, MD, Private practice specializing in Nephrology, Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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