Chronic renal failure risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aarti Narayan, M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

It is important to identify patients at risk for developing chronic renal disease, even in patients with a normal serum creatinine levels. Chronic renal failure, requiring dialysis or organ transplant, can often be prevented with early detection and treatment.

Risk factors

• NSAIDs

Age

• Age 65 or older

Race

• African-American or Hispanic race

Family history

• A positive family history

Comorbidities

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Autoimmune diseases including SLE, scleroderma, and polyarteritis nodosa
• Multiple myeloma
• Heart disease
• Smoking
• Obesity
• High cholesterol

Renal function

• Presence of proteinuria
• Abnormal urinary sediments
• Structural abnormalities of the urinary tract
• Past history of Acute renal failure

Genetics

• Certain DNA sequences like allelic versions of APOL1 gene (associated with West African ancestry), contribute to a several fold higher risk of some etiologies of Chronic renal failure e.g focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.