Chronic Kidney Disease: Catching It Before Dialysis
Kidney function can fall to a quarter of normal without producing a single symptom. Two inexpensive tests find it years earlier — and almost nobody asks for them.
Read articleAbout the Nephrology department
Nephrology manages kidney disease from the earliest detectable stage through to dialysis. In this region, diabetes and long-standing high blood pressure account for the majority of chronic kidney disease — both of which are silent until a substantial amount of kidney function has already been lost.
That silence is why screening matters. A simple serum creatinine and urine protein test in anyone with diabetes, hypertension or a family history of kidney disease can identify a problem years before symptoms appear, when slowing progression is still realistic.
The department also handles acute kidney injury — a sudden fall in kidney function caused by dehydration, sepsis, obstruction or medication toxicity. Many of these patients recover fully if the cause is identified and treated quickly.
Conditions we treat
The presentations seen most often in this department. If your symptom is not listed, book a consultation anyway — the clinic will redirect you if another speciality fits better.
- Chronic kidney disease
- Acute kidney injury
- Diabetic kidney disease
- Hypertensive nephropathy
- Nephrotic and nephritic syndrome
- Recurrent urinary infections affecting the kidney
- Electrolyte and acid-base disorders
- Kidney disease in pregnancy
- Pre- and post-transplant medical care
Procedures and services
- Nephrology consultation and staging of kidney disease
- Haemodialysis support
- Dialysis access planning and referral
- Management of anaemia and bone disease in kidney failure
- Blood pressure and proteinuria control
- Kidney biopsy referral where indicated
- Dietary and fluid counselling
Technology and support
Equipment matters only when it is available at the moment of need. These services sit on the same campus, with laboratory and imaging cover round the clock.
- Dialysis support with infection-control protocols
- Laboratory with renal function, electrolyte and urine analysis
- Ultrasound for renal imaging
- Critical care support for dialysis in unstable patients
When to seek urgent care
Do not wait for an outpatient appointment if any of the following applies. Call 9281862028 or come straight to the emergency department, which is open 24 hours and does not require an appointment.
- Marked reduction in urine output
- Swelling of the face and legs with breathlessness
- Persistent nausea and vomiting with a known kidney problem
- Frothy urine over several weeks
Frequently asked questions
Does starting dialysis mean it is permanent?
Not always. Dialysis for acute kidney injury is often temporary, and many patients recover kidney function and stop. Dialysis for end-stage chronic kidney disease is usually long-term unless a transplant is possible.
Can chronic kidney disease be reversed?
Established scarring cannot be reversed, but progression can be slowed substantially — often by years — through tight blood pressure control, blood sugar control, specific medications that protect the kidney, salt restriction and avoiding painkillers of the NSAID class.
