Chronic Kidney Disease, Stage III Differential Diagnosis Table

Chronic Kidney Disease, Stage III Differential Diagnosis Table:

Chronic Kidney Disease is defined as the presence of indicators of renal damage or injury with more than three months of duration, characterized by structural or functional alterations of the kidney that may or may not be accompanied by a decrease in glomerular filtration rate.
The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is used to classify the stage of Chronic Kidney Disease. A person with Stage III Chronic Kidney Disease has moderate kidney damage. This stage is divided into two, stage 3A in which the patient has a glomerular filtration rate of 45-59 ml/min and 3B in which the patient has a glomerular filtration rate of 30-44 ml/min.
There are clinical and sociodemographic risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease. Among the most prevalent clinical factors are: diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, cardiovascular disease, family history of chronic kidney disease, as well as systemic infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. The most prevalent sociodemographic factors are: advanced age over 60 years, low income level, low educational level, and exposure to certain chemicals such as lead or mercury.
In Stage III Chronic Kidney Disease, the following symptoms are present: fatigue, edema of the extremities, dyspnea, changes in urine, cramps.

How to Distinguish Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III from Other Diseases

Distinguish Diabetic Nephropathy from Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III – Diagnosis

Diabetic Nephropathy is the alterations produced in the kidney due to an imbalance in blood glucose.

• The big difference between these two conditions is that Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III can be due to different chronic conditions but Diabetic Nephropathy is due to uncontrolled diabetes.
• Diabetic Nephropathy, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, is rapidly evolving and presents polyuria.

Distinguish Glomerulonephritis from Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III – Diagnosis

It is the inflammation of the renal glomeruli.

• The risk factors associated with Glomerulonephritis, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, are blood disorders or lymphatic system, family history of cancer, streptococcal infections, exposures to hydrocarbon sales.
• Glomerulonephritis, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, is rapidly evolving and presents hematuria, nausea, vomiting, and dyspnea.

Distinguish Urinary Tract Obstruction from Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III – Diagnosis

Is an obstruction of any part of the urinary tract that prevents the passage of urine.

• Urinary Tract Obstruction, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, the most common causes are kidney stones, narrowed urethra, benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as scar tissue, cancerous growths, or blood clots.
• Urinary Tract Obstruction, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, causes colicky flank pain, oliguria, nausea, vomiting, fever, and hematuria.

Distinguish Polycystic Kidney Disease from Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III – Diagnosis

It is a disorder in which cysts grow or develop inside the kidneys, causing hypertrophy and its functionality.

• Polycystic Kidney Disease, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, is hereditary.
• Polycystic Kidney Disease, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, causes back or flank pain, hematuria, sensation of fullness in the abdomen, enlarged abdomen due to kidney hypertrophy, headache, presence of kidney stones, recurrent tract infections.

Distinguish Acute Kidney Injury from Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III – Diagnosis

Is a sudden kidney failure damage that occurs within hours or days.

• Acute Kidney Injury, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, it may be due to volume depression, sepsis, heart failure, acute tubular necrosis, analgesic nephropathy, obstructive nephropathy, severe trauma, or surgery.
• Acute Kidney Injury, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, causes oliguria, fatigue, dyspnea, confusion, nausea, and chest pain.

Distinguish Systemic Lupus Erythematosus from Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III – Diagnosis

It is a multisystemic chronic inflammatory disease.

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, it is an autoimmune disease.
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, causes general symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin lesions as erythema in butterfly wings, cardiovascular and pulmonary alterations.
• Kidney damage caused by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, is asymptomatic.
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, is more prevalent in women.

Distinguish Renal Artery Stenosis from Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III – Diagnosis

It is the narrowing of the renal arteries.

• Renal Artery Stenosis, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, is caused by fibromuscular dysplasia or accumulation of lipids or other substances in the renal arteries.
• Renal Artery Stenosis, unlike Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III, presents heart failure, overload of fluids, swelling, puffs located over the kidneys.

Common Red Flags With Chronic Kidney Disease Stage III

For diagnosis, the best indicator is the estimated glomerular filtration rate and the serum creatinine concentration will depend on variables such as age and muscle mass of the patient. In patients who have a family history of kidney disease, imaging techniques are generally used such as a kidney ultrasound accompanied with a good personal and family anamnesis directed. Other complementary tests can be blood test or urine analysis.

Treatment is important because its purpose is to avoid complications and slow the progression of the disease by controlling the patient’s eating habits, with a reduction in salt intake, a low protein diet and the consumption of food rich in phosphorus and potassium. As for pharmacological treatment, the use of renal protectors, hormonal, electrolytes correctors, as well as vitamin D and erythropoietin are used.

Among the complications that can occur at the systemic level are: cardiovascular complications, patients may develop ischemic cardiomyopathy, hematological alterations such as disorders in immunity or coagulation, metabolic bone alterations and neurological alterations.

This condition can be prevented by controlling the factors or preventing them which are arterial hypertension and diabetes.