ESRD, end stage renal disease, refers to kidneys are functioning less than 15%. In this case, quite a number of ESRD patients complain pleural effusion. Is this problem associated with severe kidney damage? If yes, how does ESRD cause pleural effusion?
In our body, kidneys are responsible for eliminating extra fluid and electrolyte from the body. However, when kidney disease aggravates into end stage, kidneys fail to do this work. Then, several conditions indeed can cause pleural effusion. They are:
1. Water and sodium retention: As excessive amount of water and sodium collects in the body, patients may present different severity of swelling. In severe cases, pleural effusion occurs.
2. Cardiac insufficiency: For ESRD patients, cardiovascular disease is one dangerous complication, because most kidney patients finally die of this complication rather than kidney failure. When heart is involved in end stage renal disease, patients may suffer from pleural effusion.
3. Peritoneal dialysis: If the remaining kidney functioning tissues are not enough to maintain patients’ basic life, patients are more likely to recommend to do dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis is one kidney dialysis treatment that uses patients’ peritoneum as dialysis membrane, while pleural effusion is one common side effect of peritoneal dialysis.
If ESRD patients are experiencing pleural effusion, difficult breath, fever or palpitation presents. In this case, patients should pay highly attention. Otherwise, it may induce life-threatening complications. To deal with this problem, the key is to boost patients’ kidney and heart function. If patients are taking peritoneal dialysis, they are suggested to choose some alternative therapies.
Since the cause and severity of pleural effusion changes from person to person, the treatment plan should depend on patients’ illness condition. Leave your illness description in the form below, so kidney experts can give you some treatment suggestions in 24 hours.