While true "reversal" of kidney damage in Stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is generally considered unlikely, significant improvements, stabilization, and even apparent reversal (moving back to Stage 2) can occur with aggressive management, new medications, and lifestyle changes, preventing progression to kidney failure. The focus is on halting the damage, preserving remaining function, and slowing the disease's advancement through controlling diabetes/blood pressure, diet, and newer treatments, with some patients seeing remarkable recovery, notes Yale Medicine and National Kidney Foundation.
There's no cure for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse. Your treatment will depend on the stage of your CKD.
The kidneys can often recover from alcohol damage. Studies show that kidney-related problems caused by alcohol may resolve with four weeks of abstinence. While the kidneys can heal quite well once heavy alcohol use is removed, there may be situations where the stress is so great that it causes lasting damage.
People with stage 3b CKD have an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 30 and 44 for 3 months or more (confirmed with repeat testing to make sure you don't have acute kidney injury).
However, it rarely causes symptoms and does not have a big impact on quality of life. And, with changes in lifestyle and treatment from your GP, it is possible to keep your kidneys healthy. Very few people with Stage 3 CKD have a disease of the kidney and the earlier this can be detected the better.
Think of Stage 3 CKD as the "middle stage" of kidney disease. Your kidneys are damaged, but you don't need dialysis or a kidney transplant. In this stage, it's important to monitor not just your kidney function but also the levels of albumin in your urine, measured by the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR).
Treating the underlying cause, like dehydration, infection, or a medication reaction, may allow your kidney function numbers to return to normal or close to it. People with chronic kidney disease are typically unable to improve their eGFR significantly. This is because kidney damage is permanent and cannot be undone.
The study found that people with stage 3B were often more at risk for mortality and other diseases than people with stage 3A kidney disease.
In the general population, approximately 38% of adults aged 70 or older have an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, with most having moderate reductions in eGFR in the 30-59 ml/min/1.73 m2 range (1).
8 Diet and Nutrition Goals for People with Stage 3 Chronic Kidney...
Diabetes and high blood pressure are the top culprits damaging kidneys most, as they harm the delicate filtering blood vessels, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and failure; other major factors include smoking, obesity, dehydration, poor diet (high sugar/salt/red meat), certain medications (NSAIDs), lack of sleep, and genetic conditions. These factors create a cycle where damaged kidneys worsen blood pressure, further damaging them.
Many people with kidney function will recover over time. This could take days, weeks or months.
The first signs of kidney damage from alcohol include fluid retention, changes in urination, lethargy, and loss of appetite. The first two symptoms happen when the kidneys become less effective at regulating bodily fluids. The latter two symptoms occur due to toxin buildup in the bloodstream.
A recent study published in PLoS Medicine provides further evidence that many older adults with stage 3a chronic kidney disease will never worsen, whereas some may even improve.
To strengthen your kidneys, focus on a healthy lifestyle: stay hydrated with water, eat a balanced diet low in salt and processed foods, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol, while also managing blood pressure and blood sugar to prevent damage.
What are the signs of AKI recovery?
GFR is considered as the best overall measure of kidney function for diagnosis and treatment of patients with CKD.
Antibiotics, Antifungals, and Antivirals
Many medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria (antibiotics), fungus (anti-fungals), or a virus (antivirals) leave your body through the kidneys. So, they can build up in your body and cause extra side effects if the dose is too high for your eGFR.
These medicines include an ACE inhibitor/ARB, an SGLT2 inhibitor and/or an nsMRA. Your healthcare professional may also prescribe a statin (cholesterol medicine). Guidelines recommend a statin for people with stage 3a CKD who also have diabetes, a history of heart disease, or are age 50 or older.
Sleep disorders, are common in people with chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease. In addition to insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, excessive sleepiness, and restless leg syndrome many have a high incidence of sleep apnea and periodic limb movements in sleep.
Although CKD is generally progressive and irreversible, there are steps providers and patients can take to slow progression, enabling patients to live longer without complications or the need for renal replacement therapy.
If your eGFR indicates kidney disease, you can take steps to protect your kidneys from further damage. Certain medications, maintaining a healthy weight for you, regular exercise and changes to what you eat can help your kidney health. If you have any questions, reach out to a provider.
When a kidney infection is responsible for high creatinine levels, treatment with an antibiotic should return them to normal. Likewise, if the increased creatinine levels are due to high blood pressure, taking medication to treat this should also lower creatinine levels.
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