Complications of chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease can affect almost every part of your body. Potential complications include: Fluid retention, which could lead to swelling in your arms and legs, high blood pressure, or fluid in your lungs (pulmonary edema) A sudden rise in potassium levels in your blood (hyperkalemia), which could impair your heart's function and can be life-threatening Anemia Heart disease Weak bones and an increased risk of bone fractures Decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction or reduced fertility Damage to your central nervous system, which can cause difficulty concentrating, personality changes or seizures Decreased immune response, which makes you more vulnerable to infection Pericarditis, an inflammation of the saclike membrane that envelops your heart (pericardium) Pregnancy complications that carry risks for the mother and the developing fetus Irreversible damage to your kidneys (end-stage kidney disease), eventually requiring either dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival