What happens when you approach ESRD?

The Foundation for IgA Nephropathy

Chronic Renal Insufficiency

What happens when you approach ESRD?

It is at this stage that you are on the treshold of needing renal replacement therapy (any form of dialysis, or a kidney transplant). When this actually happens will depend on your symptoms and lab results, but it will occur as you get close to 10% kidney function (by which time the special renal diet and medications will no longer be enough to keep you healthy). You will be considered to be approaching ESRD when you are under 30% kidney function (as measured by Glomerular Filtration Rate), and more actively as you approach 20% kidney function.

Sequence of events when you approach ESRD

Some localities, such as many major urban centres, may have a very complete "system" that patients come under or have access to as they approach or reach ESRD. Other areas might not. The sequence of events given below is typical, but it's possible that some of the items listed might not be available where you live, or your nephrologist may vary it slightly. It is provided as a guide, so that you will know what to expect, and what to discuss with your nephrologist.

35 to 30% kidney function (or thereabouts)

Refer for Renal Replacement Therapy classes, also referred to as pre-dialysis classes. This is where patients should be introduced to the concept of the renal diet, and have the renal replacement options explained to them, ie. hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and kidney transplant. This allows patients to make an informed choice of treatment method when the time comes, in consultation with their nephrologist and family. In some areas, handouts may be used in place of actual classes. Classes are usually about 6 to 8 hours spread over a couple of days on alternate weeks, or during evenings. Around this time, you will probably also be told to start taking calcium with meals as a phosphorus binder, if you haven't already (don't do this on your own).

30 to 25% kidney function (or thereabouts)

Choose dialysis method. Sometime during this timeframe, your nephrologist will want you to choose a dialysis method, so that the dialysis access to your body can be arranged. He or she may also ask if you have any potential kidney donors.

Arterio-veinous fistula (for hemodialysis). Called AV fistula for short, or just fistula. This is considered the best way of performing hemodialysis. A fistula is really just a vein near the surface of your lower or upper arm, that has been connected to an artery by a vascular surgeon. It requires surgery in your arm (usually in your non-dominant arm, in a day surgery setting). Because a fistula needs time to develop and to be exercised before it can be used, fistula surgery should usually be scheduled a good 6 months before the date dialysis is expected to be needed. It's not too early to have it done a year before expected dialysis. That way, if you have to start dialysis earlier than expected (as often happens), your fistula will be ready for use by the time you need it, and you won't have to start dialysis via a catheter inserted in your chest. If it turns out you don't need to start dialysis that soon, it doesn't hurt to have that fistula ready and waiting.

Graft or shunt (for hemodialysis). This is similar to an AV fistula, but whereas the fistula uses a natural vein in your arm, a graft is an artificial piece of tubing that is implanted in your arm to serve the same purpose. People who choose hemodialysis but who don't have suitable veins for fistula surgery may need to have a graft instead of a fistula. Most IgAN patients are able to develop a fistula. The word shunt is often used, but it is an obsolete term in this context. Some health professionals in dialysis may even refer to a fistula as a shunt.

Abdominal catheter (for peritoneal dialysis). If you choose peritoneal dialysis (PD), a surgeon will have to insert a plastic tube in your abdomen, through which you will perform your dialysate fluid exchanges. This does not need as much lead time as a fistula for hemodialysis, but it's still preferable to have it ready when the time comes, so, like the fistula, ideally, the catheter is inserted during the 6 months to a year preceding the time of expected dialysis. Shortly before you later need to actually start PD, the catheter already inside your abdomen is brought out for use.

Potential kidney donors (for pre-emptive transplant). Some people may want to consider having a kidney transplant when they reach ESRD rather than having to go on dialysis. This is called a pre-emptive transplant. Obviously, this requires having a suitable and pre-qualified donor lined up. As both the patient's pre-evaluation as a potential kidney transplant recipient, and the donor's pre-evaluation as a potential kidney donor can take some time (weeks or months in some cases), this is best performed well-ahead of time (ie. the year leading up to anticipated ESRD). There can be many medical or psychological/social reasons that a potential kidney donor is rejected, and, unfortunately, it's not unheard of for a qualified kidney donor to back out of it very late in the process. Or sometimes, an illness will make it impossible to get the transplant at the time it's needed. For that reason, many nephrologists will suggest that you also choose a method of dialysis just in case it's needed (given the lead time that is required for the access surgery). Therefore, even a patient with a donor all pre-qualified for an expected pre-emptive transplant might still have fistula surgery performed, or a PD catheter inserted.

Kidney transplant waiting list. If you do not plan to have a pre-emptive kidney transplant, it's still a good idea to go through your evaluation as a potential kidney transplant recipient before you start dialysis. That way, you will be on the waiting list and able to receive a kidney if one should come along soon after you start dialysis. Otherwise, you could miss out if your evaluation is only started once you are on dialysis. Some important information about getting listed:

Getting on the waiting list does not happen automatically. Make sure your nephrologist knows you want a transplant, and that however it happens, you do actually get referred to a kidney transplant centre. Once this happens, you will need to go through a potential kidney transplant recipient evaluation, which usually includes a complete medical evaluation, medical tests (such as various heart tests), a psychological and/or social worker evaluation, interviews with a transplant nephrologist and a transplant surgeon. This evaluation can easily take a number of months. It usually can be completed before you actually reach the point of needing dialysis.

In Canada, you can be evaluated while you are pre-dialysis, but the exact rules which govern may vary from Province to Province, and from region to region within each province. Using the Province of Ontario as an example, no matter when you complete the evaluation, before or after having started dialysis, your time on the waiting list begins the exact date that you start dialysis, not before (it is retroactive if you completed the evaluation after having started dialysis). If you have a potential live donor, you will be put on hold from the waiting list while that person is being evaluated. This is done because a kidney from a live donor is considered to be superior to one from the waiting list. The reasoning behind starting everyone's time on the waiting list as of the date of first dialysis is that evidence has shown that the longer a person is on dialysis, the more overall health declines. Therefore, it is believed to be more fair to everyone that time on the list begins on the date of first dialysis. Some people may have completed their evaluation before dialysis, some after. Some may have been on hold one or more times because of other illnesses, etc., but nobody is penalized for having had delays in their potential recipient evaluation or for having had other illnesses during the course of dialysis.

In the United States, you can usually be evaluated as a potential kidney transplant recipient within the 2-3 year period before you would be expected to start dialysis. If you have done so, credit for waiting time on the waiting list begins when you have reached 20% kidney function (more precisely, a GFR of less than 20, as per a rule change implemented by UNOS in 1998). Since dialysis is typically started when GFR is about 10%, it is therefore possible to obtain a cadaveric kidney transplant before having actually started dialysis.

15 to 10% kidney function (more or less)

It will vary based on a patient's symptoms, but this is the timeframe when dialysis is started. A person who is diabetic will often be started at 15% kidney function, while most IgAN patients would start at about 10%. It's common practice these days to start dialysis in a planned manner, rather than waiting until it becomes an emergency situation (thankfully!). Most people will either start dialysis or have the pre-emptive kidney transplant done when or slightly before they reach 10% kidney function. Some people may reach 10% without experiencing any major symptoms, but, generally, dialysis will be started at this point, if not slightly before, in a planned fashion, even if the patient doesn't feel any significant symptoms. Since there is still about 10% kidney function at this point, it may be possible to continue quite some time without dialysis, but starting dialysis early increases chances of an easier transition, and it allows time to initiate dialysis in a way that minimizes stress on the body.

Contrary to popular misconception, there is no advantage to being able to delay dialysis even if no symptoms of renal failure are felt once kidney function (glomerular flitration rate) reaches about 10%, and there may in fact be significant disadvantages for the patient in terms of mortality and morbidity.

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