The kidney function is severely damaged in stage 4 kidney disease. Kidneys are no longer able to work normally. Is dialysis needed on stage 4 kidney disease?

When kidney function declines, the waste products and toxins will accumulate in blood, causing a lot of symptoms. People in stage 4 are more likely to develop complications like high blood pressure, diabetes, anemia and so on. In some conditions, dialysis is needed in stage 4 chronic kidney disease. But in some conditions, dialysis is unnecessary. Then in what conditions are dialysis needed?

Normally, when kidney disease develops into stage 4 kidney disease, dialysis is needed in the following conditions:

A. When there is obvious symptoms, like nausea, vomit, fatigue, sleepiness, acidosis, muscle cramps, heavy swelling, heart failure, etc, dialysis is needed.

B. Patients have serious primary disease, like diabetes, high blood pressure and SLE.

C. Aged patients.

Proper dialysis will do good to patients. It can help patients relieve some symptoms, control the primary disease and prevent complications.

Not all the patients in stage 4 kidney disease need dialysis. If they are have no obvious symptoms, or complications, dialysis can be delayed. However, dialysis is urgently needed in the following conditions:

A. Patients have serious symptoms, like oliguria, anuria, pulmonary edema, heart failure and so on.

B. The high potassium level is higher than 6.5 mmol/l and cannot bring under control with drugs.

C. Patients are troubled by metabolic acidosis and the PH is lower than 7.2.

D. Patients are complicated by pericarditis, hemorrhage of digestive tract, coma and so on.

Whether dialysis is needed in stage 4 kidney disease should depend on you own condition. If you do not know what your condition, you are suggested to do a general physical test and then you can send your medial report to renal-disease@hotmail.com, the kidney doctor will give you some suggestion based on your specific condition.