The primary role of the kidneys is to remove waste and excess fluid from the bloodstream. When the kidney's filtering function is compromised, dangerous amounts of waste and fluids accumulate in the body. This condition is called kidney or renal failure. Renal failure can be divided into two types: acute and chronic.
Acute renal failure occurs when the kidney's filtering capacity is suddenly and dramatically reduced over a period of days to weeks. Chronic renal failure on the other hand evolves in a much slower manner typically over many years. Chronic renal failure may remain asymptomatic until more than 75% of the kidney's function has been lost. It is estimated that as many as 20 million American adults have chronic renal failure and another 20 million are at risk for developing it. In the United States, the two leading causes of chronic renal failure are diabetes mellitus and hypertension. For additional and more complete information on kidney disorders, the following web sites are recommended: