Can CKD be cured?

There is no cure for chronic kidney disease (CKD) – in most patients. But it can be treated. Treatment can help relieve the symptoms and stop it getting worse.

In other words, for most people with CKD, once it has started, they always have it. Though in a small number of patients it does get better and goes away, and does not come back (a ‘cure’) – e.g. minimal change disease (a glomerular disease) or obstructive nephropathy.

So. Can CKD be cured? No, not usually. Even though it cannot (usually) be cured, there are 7 main treatments for CKD (for most patients).

1. Lifestyle changes

This includes keeping your weight down (if overweight), regular exercise, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake.

2. Medication

Many medications help CKD:

ACE/ARBs (blood pressure tablets). Apart from patients with renovascular disease, these tablets benefit most patients with CKD and slow its progression
SGLT2is (originally for diabetes). These also lower blood pressure and slow the progression of CKD. They benefit patients with or without diabetes
Other drugs. These include other drugs to lower blood pressure, control blood glucose levels (in diabetes), lower cholesterol levels, treat anaemia (EPO), and protect the bones (calcium and vitamin D).

3. Normal/low blood pressure

“The one thing that all patients with CKD should strive for is normal (or better low) blood pressure = of<130/80 at all times, and <120/70 if you have diabetes. This will slow the progression of all causes of CKD”

4. Other specific treatments

Urinary catheter (tube into the bladder) in obstructive nephropathy, or
Drugs to suppress the immune system – in vasculitis and some types of chronic glomerulonephritis (autoimmune diseases of the glomerulus).

5. Dialysis

This treatment, required for the advanced CKD (CKD5 or kidney failure), is a treatment to replicate the kidney’s filtration function. It does not treat the underlying disease. There are two types: peritoneal and haemodialysis. Both provide about 5% of normal kidney filtration function.

6. Kidney transplant

This is a surgical procedure where a healthy kidney from a donor is transplanted into a person with CKD. It is also a treatment to replicate the kidney’s filtration function. Like dialysis, it does not treat the underlying disease.

7. Kidney specialist (nephrologist)

If you have Stage 3B CKD, you should see or be discussed with a nephrologist. If you have Stage 4 CKD, you should be seen by a nephrologist.

If referred, do not allow yourself to be discharged unless your CKD is stable and there is little/no likelihood of progression to dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Note. Your treatment will depend on the stage of your CKD.

Summary

We have described can CKD be cured. For most people, the answer is no. But there is a lot that can be done to relieve symptoms, and/or slow or stop the progression of the disease.

Other resource

Treatment for CKD (longer article)

Last Reviewed on 11 April 2024