Nephrology

End Stages Renal Diseases

End-stage kidney disease is also called end-stage renal disease. End-stage kidney disease is the last stage of chronic kidney disease. This is when your kidneys can no longer support your body's needs. The kidneys remove waste and excess water from the body. ESRD occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to work at a level needed for day-to-day life. The most common causes of ESRD are diabetes and high blood pressure. These conditions can affect your kidneys. ESRD almost always comes after chronic kidney disease. The kidneys may slowly stop working over 10 to 20 years before end-stage disease results. Chronic kidney disease is when there is permanent damage to your kidneys.  Your kidneys may still work well enough for you to live, even if they have some damage. If your kidneys keep getting worse, CKD can lead to kidney failure. This is when the kidneys do not work well enough for you to live.  If this happens, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.