Stage 5 CKD
Also called: stage 5 kidney disease, stage 5 chronic kidney disease
A person with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) has end stage renal disease (ESRD) with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 15 ml/min or less. At this advanced stage of kidney disease, the kidneys have lost nearly all their function, and eventually dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to live. Symptoms that can occur in stage 5 include loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, headaches, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, itching, making little or no urine, swelling (especially around the eyes and ankles), muscle cramps, tingling in hands or feet, as well as changes in skin color and increased skin pigmentation.
If you are diagnosed with stage 5, you will need to see a nephrologist immediately. This is a doctor trained in kidney disease, dialysis and transplant. The doctor will help you decide which treatment is best for you—hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or kidney transplant—and will recommend an access for dialysis. Your nephrologist will develop your overall care plan and manage your health care team.
