Causes
Chronic kidney
disease can result from a number of causes, including:
- High blood pressure. The
National Kidney Foundation reports that high blood pressure is the number
one cause of chronic kidney disease because high blood pressure can damage
blood vessels, which can reduce the blood supply to the kidneys. High
blood pressure also damages the glomeruli (the tiny filters in your
kidneys). Rovin says patients with high blood pressure “should be screened
regularly for kidney involvement.”
- Diabetes. Similarly,
the effects of diabetes on the body over time also contribute to the
development of kidney disease. Frequent high blood sugar levels cause
damage to many internal organs at the cellular level. The kidneys are
especially susceptible to this damage and may stop functioning properly.
Rovin notes that the diabetes connection with kidney disease affects
people with all types of diabetes. People with either "Type 1 and
Type 2 diabetes should have a thorough investigation of kidney function
periodically that will check their serum chemistries and creatinine to
make sure they’re OK.” He says looking for protein in the urine should
also be a regular occurrence for diabetics.
- Cancer. Renal
failure can result from kidney cancer or other types of cancer that spread
to the kidney. Kidney damage can also be a side effect of certain cancer
treatments such as chemotherapy agents.
- Strep
infection. Infection
with the strep bacteria, if not properly treated, can lead to a variety of
other issues, including inflammation of the kidneys that can impede their
function.
- Vasculitis. This
condition causes inflammation of the blood vessels. Because the kidneys
are highly vascularized, they are sensitive to changes in the health of
the vascular system.
- Autoimmune diseases. In any
kind of autoimmune disease, the body’s immune system – which is designed
to protect the body from disease-causing agents – gets confused and begins
attacking the body’s own cells. There are a wide range of autoimmune
diseases, but some, lupus in particular, that can cause damage to the
kidneys. Rovin notes that about 50% of lupus patients “will develop severe
kidney involvement,” so screening for these issues and staying on top of
your health if you have an autoimmune disease like lupus is important. He
notes that treatment for these types of kidney diseases focuses on
controlling the symptoms of the autoimmune disease and getting systemic
inflammation under control. Immunosuppressant medications, such as
steroids, may help.
- Other
infections. Bacterial
urinary tract infections can eventually reach the kidneys and cause
damage. Certain infections of the heart can also travel to the kidneys and
wreak havoc. Viral infections, such as HIV, as well as hepatitis B and
hepatitis C – two viruses that first infect the liver and then can
progress to the kidneys – can also cause damage to the glomeruli. In all
of these cases, management of the original infection can help reduce the
chances of developing kidney damage or reducing its severity.
- Medications. Overuse
or abuse of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and
naproxen sodium, can also damage the kidneys.
Other risk factors
include:
- Cardiovascular disease. Heart
disease of any type elevates the risk of kidney problems because of how many
blood vessels run through the kidneys.
- Obesity. Being
overweight puts more strain on many of the body’s organ systems, including
the kidneys.
- Smoking. Smoking
damages vascular structures throughout the body. Rovin says smoking has
been associated with kidney disease.
- Family
history. If
other close family members have had kidney disease, that can increase your
risk of developing it.
- Race. African-Americans,
Native Americans and Asian-Americans are at higher risk than Caucasians.
