Kidney basics
Kidneys are bean-shaped organs about the size of small fists. They are located below the rib cage on each side of the back bone.
Image courtesy of The Kidney Foundation of Canada
The role of kidneys
- Filter waste from blood
- Remove extra fluid (urine)
- Balance acid/base and minerals in the body
- Produce hormones which help to control blood pressure and make red blood cells
- Produce vitamin D to keep bones healthy
Stages of chronic kidney disease
| Stage | Description | Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level |
| 1 | normal kidney function but medical tests suggest some kidney damage or disease | 90 mL/min or more |
| 2 | mildly reduced kidney function | 60 to 89 mL/min |
| 3 | moderately reduced kidney function | 30 to 59 mL/min |
| 4 | severely reduced kidney function | 15 to 29 mL/min |
| 5 | established kidney disease | less than 15 mL/min |
Adapted from: www.kidneyresearchuk.org Dialysis: Making the Right Choices for You; August 2014
Symptoms of chronic kidney disease
These are typical symptoms that may occur, but keep in mind that they may vary or occur gradually. Not all symptoms are experienced by all individuals. Your doctor will advise when to start treatment.
- Extreme fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of appetite
- Itchy skin
- Swelling
- Trouble concentrating
- Drowsiness
Causes of chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Immunological disease (autoimmune diseases)
- Genetic disorders (Polycystic Kidney Disease)
- Medications / supplements
- Chronic kidney infections
- Blockage of urine flow from kidney(s)
- Surgical removal of kidney(s)
- Critical illness
Quick links
Contact us »
Nephrology division
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Kidney Care Centre at the CNIB Centre
1929 Bayview Ave., 3rd floor
Toronto, ON M4G 3E8
Phone:
416-480-6100 ext. 63863
Email:
SunnybrookNephrology@sunnybrook.ca
Division Head:
Dr. Matthew Oliver
Dialysis unit
Phone: 416-480-4488
Fax: 416-480-4485
Appointments »
All appointments (including questions about, or changes to appointments) MUST be coordinated by your care team. Clinic patients are now seen at the CNIB Satellite Centre, with the exception of the HIV Renal Disease Clinic, and the Pregnancy and Kidney Disease (PreKID) Clinic; these two clinics remain at Sunnybrook's (main) Bayview Campus.
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Each of our clinics manage their own referral process. Please refer to our clinic information page for referral details and documentation requirements.
