Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease

by Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH

In its early phases, chronic kidney disease usually doesn’t cause symptoms. However, as the condition progresses to the end-stage renal disease stage, it can cause a number of symptoms, including:

  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Swelling of feet and ankles
  • Poor appetite
  • Needing to urinate more often, especially at night
  • Muscle cramping at night
  • Nausea
  • Itching
  • Shortness of breath
  • Metallic taste in mouth
  • Chest pain
  • Altered mental state
  • Hiccups
  • Irritability
  • Problem with concentration
  • Reduced libido
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Numbness and tingling in hands and feet

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References:

Are you at increased risk for chronic kidney disease? National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/11-10-1814.pdf . Accessed September 10, 2011.
Chronic kidney disease: patient information handout. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://familydocto... . Accessed September 10, 2011.
National Kidney Foundation. Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) clinical practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease: evaluation, classification, and stratification. Am J Kidney Dis. 2002;39:S1-266.
Snyder S, Pendergraph B. Detection and evaluation of chronic kidney disease. Am Fam Physicians. 2005;72:723-732.
Last reviewed September 2012 by Adrienne Carmack, MD
Last Updated: 09/30/2012

 
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