What is kidney failure?

Also known as: end-stage renal disease, renal failure, acute or chronic renal failure.

The kidneys are responsible for balancing body water and salt levels (plus other functions) by filtering the water and waste material brought it by the bloodstream and transforming it into urine to be emptied from the bladder. Renal failure results when damage to the kidneys impairs this function. It may occur acutely (sudden and temporary) or follow chronic (slowly progressive and permanent) damage to kidney function.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM