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Slowing Kidney Disease

Slowing the Progression of Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition where the kidneys are damaged. Kidney damage can be estimated using the serum creatinine, persons age, race and gender. This calculation is known as the eGFR. Damage can also be proved by using markers such as the urinary protein or by documenting unusual findings on imaging studies such as the renal ultrasound.

Kidney disease is divided into 5 stages, based upon the eGFR levels measured over at least a 3 month time frame.

Stage 1 (≥ 90 ml/min)
Stage 2 (60 ml – 89 ml/min)
Stage 3 (30 ml – 59 ml/min)
Stage 4 (15 ml – 29 ml/min)
Stage 5 (< 15 ml/min)

Whether or not the disease will progress depends in part upon the stage and if there are risk factors. A formula developed by the Southern California Kaiser Permanente group suggests that for Stage 3 patients without risk factors and without diabetes, if the sum of the GFR + ½ the age total is greater than 85 ml/min, only 1 percent of patients in this grouping will move on to end stage kidney disease.1 For many patients with more advanced disease, there is often progression to either dialysis or the need for a kidney transplant.

Preventing the progression of kidney disease is therefore challenging, not only because it can lead to the need for more therapy, but also because it is associated with other serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease. There are several steps to preventing the progression of CKD – and they will be discussed in this article.

1. Kidney disease awareness: The first step toward the progression of kidney disease is to be aware that one has it. Studies show that 7.5 percent of patient with moderate (Stage 3) CKD do not know they have it,2 and that many people with the disease do little about it.

2. Control blood pressure: Many patients have hypertension as the cause of their kidney disease. And, even if they do not, as kidney disease worsens, the blood pressure rises. Numerous studies have shown that the simple control of blood pressure will help delay worsening of kidney disease. CKD Guidelines suggest that the blood pressure should be controlled to less than 130/80, and when proteinuria (protein in the urine) of one or more grams is also present, to 120/75 mmHg.3

3. Control diabetes: [7] A clinical trial that was done in 1993 showed that control of diabetes would control progression of proteinuria – a major factor in kidney disease. [8] Diabetes is a common cause of kidney failure, and since it is related to obesity, is becoming more wide-spread in the USA.

4. Antioxidant therapy: Antioxidants are commonly used in patients with CKD, and are heavily promoted to the general population. There have been several studies of antioxidant supplementation, and although they have failed to show any cardiovascular benefit, they may help to protect the progression of CKD.10

5. ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibition and ARB (angiotensin receptor blockade) therapy: These therapies block hormones associated with the renin-angiotensin system, an important system that controls the kidney cleaning system and blood pressure during volume depletion or hemorrhage. But, the release of the end hormone, angiotensin II can lead to kidney damage through several mechanisms, and blocking this hormone can result in less kidney disease progression.

6. Bicarbonate therapy: Sodium bicarbonate tablets have been shown to control the progression of kidney disease. Patients with kidney disease may collect acids; the kidney is important in making the acid stopping systems, as well as in getting rid of extra acid taken in through diet. Extra acid buildup can cause changes in how the body controls metabolism. Sodium bicarbonate tablets are not expensive, and can be very useful as an additional aid in controlling the progression of kidney disease. It has been shown to slow the rate of progression of CKD and to improve nutrition.[12]

7. Smoking cigarettes/nicotine exposure – Cigarette smoking has been related to CKD,although no randomized clinical trial has yet to be conducted.13]There is an observational relationship that those who participate in betel nut chewing (which includes nicotine) have a higher incidence of CKD.14

8. Dietary phosphorus restriction: Limiting phosphorus in your diet may help delay kidney disease progression.

Phosphorus is a naturally occurring substance in many of the foods we eat, and in moderation a necessary component to the diet. However, when used as a preservative, the body cannot adapt as well to the large amounts eaten. While normal kidneys can get rid of phosphorus without too much difficulty, kidney disease gets in the way of the body being able to freely rid itself of phosphorus.

9. Dietary protein control: Limiting protein in your diet can reduce the rate of filtration rate across the kidney and

decrease lots of stress on the kidney filters. Protein restriction was studied in human subjects in the MDRD trial (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease). While the first studies suggested that strict protein control would slow the progression of kidney disease, a more recent follow up of this study population remains inconclusive.17 One of the problems is that dietary protein restriction is very difficult, and many patients are unable to follow to such a hard diet.

10. Avoiding nephrotoxins (toxins that kill cells the kidneys): There are many substances used in everyday pain relievers that can offset the structure that control the circulation inside the kidney. Together, these pain relievers are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. While these medications do no harm to patients with normal kidneys, those who have existing CKD or who have had a history of acute kidney injury do not and they may cause the kidneys to get worse.20 Other medications often thought to be harmless can also lead tovdisease progression. Therefore, it is very important to check with your doctor before starting any medication or remedy, particularly if over the counter.

 

References

1. Rutkowski M, Mann W, Derose S, Selevan D, Pascual N, Diesto J, et al. Implementing KDOQI CKD definition and staging guidelines in Southern California Kaiser Permanente. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation. 2009 Mar;53(3 Suppl 3):S86-99.
2. Plantinga LC, Tuot DS, Powe NR. Awareness of chronic kidney disease among patients and providers. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2010 May;17(3):225-36.
3. Ravera M, Re M, Deferrari L, Vettoretti S, Deferrari G. Importance of blood pressure control in chronic kidney disease. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN. 2006 Apr;17(4 Suppl 2):S98-103.
4. Grimes CA, Riddell LJ, Campbell KJ, Nowson CA. Dietary Salt Intake, Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption, and Obesity Risk. Pediatrics. 2012 Dec 10.
5. Vital signs: food categories contributing the most to sodium consumption – United States, 2007- 2008. MMWR Morbidity and mortality weekly report. 2012 Feb 10;61(5):92-8.
6. CDC grand rounds: dietary sodium reduction – time for choice. MMWR Morbidity and mortality weekly report. 2012 Feb 10;61(5):89-91.
7. Rossing P. Prediction, progression and prevention of diabetic nephropathy. The Minkowski Lecture 2005. Diabetologia. 2006 Jan;49(1):11-9.
8. The effect of intensive treatment of diabetes on the development and progression of long-term complications in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group. The New England journal of medicine. 1993 Sep 30;329(14):977-86.
9. Kretowicz M, Johnson RJ, Ishimoto T, Nakagawa T, Manitius J. The impact of fructose on renal function and blood pressure. Int J Nephrol. 2011;2011:315879.
10. Jun M, Venkataraman V, Razavian M, Cooper B, Zoungas S, Ninomiya T, et al. Antioxidants for chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;10:CD008176.
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12. de Brito-Ashurst I, Varagunam M, Raftery MJ, Yaqoob MM. Bicarbonate supplementation slows progression of CKD and improves nutritional status. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN. 2009 Sep;20(9):2075-84.
13. Nagasawa Y, Yamamoto R, Rakugi H, Isaka Y. Cigarette smoking and chronic kidney diseases. Hypertens Res. 2012 Mar;35(3):261-5.
14. Hsu YH, Liu WH, Chen W, Kuo YC, Hsiao CY, Hung PH, et al. Association of betel nut chewing with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective 7-year study in Taiwan. Nephrology (Carlton). 2011 Nov;16(8):751-7.
15. Arany I, Grifoni S, Clark JS, Csongradi E, Maric C, Juncos LA. Chronic nicotine exposure exacerbates acute renal ischemic injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2011 Jul;301(1):F125-33.
16. He J, Reilly M, Yang W, Chen J, Go AS, Lash JP, et al. Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Calcium Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study). Am J Cardiol. 2012 Dec 15;110(12):1735-41.
17. Levey AS, Greene T, Sarnak MJ, Wang X, Beck GJ, Kusek JW, et al. Effect of dietary protein restriction on the progression of kidney disease: long-term follow-up of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation. 2006 Dec;48(6):879-88.
18. Wang Y, Mitch WE. Proteins and renal fibrosis: low-protein diets induce Kruppel-like factor-15, limiting renal fibrosis. Kidney international. 2011 May;79(9):933-4.
19. Aparicio M, Bellizzi V, Chauveau P, Cupisti A, Ecder T, Fouque D, et al. Protein-restricted diets plus keto/amino acids–a valid therapeutic approach for chronic kidney disease patients. J Ren Nutr. 2012 Mar;22(2 Suppl):S1-21.
20. Kateros K, Doulgerakis C, Galanakos SP, Sakellariou VI, Papadakis SA, Macheras GA. Analysis of kidney dysfunction in orthopaedic patients. BMC Nephrol. 2012;13:101.
21. Colson CR, De Broe ME. Kidney injury from alternative medicines. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis. 2005 Jul;12(3):261-75.
This article originally apeared in the March 2013 issue of aakpRENALIFE magazine.