The Kidney and Its Main Blood Vessels

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As kidney failure progresses, some or all of the following signs and symptoms may develop:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Itchy skin
• Confusion
• Trouble concentrating
• Swelling throughout the body
• Low urine output
• Generalized weakness
• Multiple bruises
• Frequent infections
• Numbness and tingling in the extremities
• Irritability
• Decreased libido
• Menstrual irregularities
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Muscle cramps and twitches
• Shortness of breath
• Pericarditis
• High blood pressure
• Weak, brittle bones
• Yellowish-brownish skin tone
• Easy bruising of the skin
• Headache
• Frequent hiccups

If kidney failure is untreated, the accumulated waste products and fluid can result in:

• Coma
• Seizures
• Death

References

Brenner, BM., et al. Brenner & Rector’s The Kidney. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2011.

Conn's Current Therapy 2001. 53rd ed. WB Saunders Company; 2001.

Ferri, Fred, ed. Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2010. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier, 2009.

Goldman L, Ausiello D., eds. Cecil Textbook of Internal Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2008.

National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov.

National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidney.org.

Rakel, R. Textbook of Family Medicine 2007. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier, 2009.

Rakel, RE, Bope, ET. Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier, 2009.

Yu, HT. Progression of Chronic Renal Failure Arch Int Med. 2003;163:1417-1429.