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What happens when chronic kidney disease reaches stage 5?

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organs of the renal system — renal system disease Organs of the renal system.

When chronic kidney disease reaches stage 5, it signifies the onset of kidney failure, occurring when the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) drops below 15. At this stage, the kidneys have lost the vast majority of their functioning capacity and are no longer able to effectively filter waste, regulate fluids, or maintain the body’s balance of electrolytes and hormones.12

Individuals in stage 5 may experience severe symptoms, including extreme fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath due to fluid buildup in the lungs, persistent nausea and vomiting, and muscle cramps. Because the kidneys can no longer adequately remove metabolic wastes, the body becomes susceptible to uremia, a condition involving the accumulation of toxic substances in the blood.13

Terminal renal failure is life-threatening and requires medical intervention to sustain life. Treatment options at this stage include dialysis—a process that uses an artificial kidney machine or the abdominal cavity to purify the blood—or kidney transplantation.314