Skip to content
🐣 10% discount with code: PÅSK2026 🐣
Registered healthcare provider – safe and secure
Wide range of MRI and blood tests

Chronic kidney disease

Symptoms of chronic kidney disease can often be vague and difficult to detect early in the course of the disease. However, it is crucial to detect the condition early to slow the progression of the disease. Here you will learn more about common symptoms and causes of chronic kidney disease.

CR

Creatinine

Kidney test

89 kr

10% discount on testmottagningen.se with the code: PÅSK2026 Health checks for increased well-being

Go to the campaign Browse healthchecks

Contents

Quick version

What is chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that comes on insidiously where the kidneys' ability to filter blood gradually deteriorates over at least three months. An accumulation of waste products, hormonal disorders and an imbalance in fluid and electrolyte balance occurs in the kidneys. There are five different stages that are classified based on the degree of impaired kidney function. At this stage, one has kidney failure .

Common symptoms of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease can come on insidiously and is difficult to detect without targeted screening as it does not produce any clear symptoms in the early stages. As kidney function deteriorates further, the following symptoms may occur:

  • Low energy and fatigue
  • Concentration problems
  • Nausea and loss of appetite
  • Swelling (edema), especially in the legs, ankles and around the eyes
  • Foamy urine (proteinuria)
  • Increased amount of urine, especially at night
  • Itching
  • Shortness of breath (may be due to fluid retention or anemia)

What are the causes of chronic kidney disease

Here are common causes of chronic kidney disease:

How can chronic kidney disease be detected?

Chronic kidney disease is often discovered by chance, as the symptoms are often nonspecific and may occur late in the course of the disease. A diagnosis is made using tests:

  • Blood test (measurement of creatinine and eGFR – estimated glomerular filtration rate)
  • Urine test (analysis of albumin or protein in the urine)
  • Blood pressure check
  • Ultrasound of the kidneys (to detect structural abnormalities)

It is very important to detect chronic kidney disease early to slow the progression of the disease.

Symptoms vary depending on the degree of kidney function impairment

In CKD, the symptoms are often linked to the degree of kidney function impairment. In mild to moderate kidney disease, symptoms are subtle, while advanced disease can produce clear signs of urinary changes, fluid retention, metabolic acidosis, electrolyte disturbances and hormonal imbalances .

Anemia – common in chronic kidney disease

In CKD, anemia is a common finding and occurs as a result of a deficiency of erythropoietin – a hormone that is normally produced in the kidneys and stimulates the bone marrow to form red blood cells . The anemia is usually normochromic and normocytic, and contributes to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, headache and pallor.

Phosphate and chronic kidney disease

The regulation of phosphate levels in the body is carried out by the kidneys; in case of impaired kidney function, the excretion of phosphate decreases, which can lead to hyperphosphatemia. High phosphate levels negatively affect calcium balance, stimulate the release of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and can lead to secondary hyperparathyroidism and calcifications in blood vessels and soft tissues. This contributes to an increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular complications.

Related tests and health checks

Health checks

Health checks

Kidney check

Kidney check

Health check kidney function
Marker Icon 12 Biomarkers
Information

Medical comment included

With us, you will always receive a doctor’s opinion from a licensed physician when you order a medical check-up that includes a medical opinion. The doctor’s opinion includes an overall assessment of your results from laboratory analysis. The opinion is individual and may vary depending on the specific tests your medical check-up includes.

What can I expect in the medical report?

The medical opinion will summarize the results of your test results to give you an assessment of your health including any abnormalities outside the reference ranges. In case of abnormalities or need, your doctor may also contact you for a free conversation to explain and talk about your results. Remember that a health check always includes specific test results based on your health and your personal circumstances. Values outside the reference range should therefore always be discussed with a doctor before any decisions regarding possible treatment are made.

What does the doctor look at during a health check?

When assessing a blood test or health check, your doctor will look at several different parameters to evaluate your health and identify any abnormalities. Below are some common aspects your doctor may examine:

Blood counts: Your doctor will check red, white and platelet counts to identify any signs of anaemia, infection or bleeding.

Nutrients and biochemical markers: Includes, for example, analysis and monitoring of blood sugar (glucose) levels, electrolyte levels (e.g. sodium, potassium), liver function tests (e.g. liver enzymes), kidney function tests (e.g. creatinine, urea) and lipid profile (e.g. cholesterol, triglycerides). The results of the tests give your doctor a better idea of your organ function, blood sugar level, cholesterol conditions and other important health aspects.

Inflammatory markers: Your doctor may measure health markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or red blood cell decrease rate (SR) to evaluate inflammatory conditions or confirm an active infection.

Hormone levels: Your doctor may monitor your hormone levels to assess hormonal imbalances or diseases, such as thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, T4), sex hormones or other specific hormones such as testosterone levels.

Specific tests: Depending on your goal of your health check or medical history, your doctor may look into specific tests to investigate conditions or diseases, such as diabetes, vitamin deficiency or autoimmune diseases.

In conclusion, the doctor weighs all test results based on the health check to assess your overall health, detect any abnormalities and identify possible underlying medical conditions.

What happens if I have abnormal test results?

If your blood count is abnormal, this will be addressed in your personal medical opinion. Depending on the nature and extent of the abnormality, your doctor may also contact you directly through the test result service for further guidance. Various measures and advice will be provided based on the specific abnormalities observed along with your medical history.

  • Checking your kidney function.
  • Test for suspected kidney failure.
  • Health check for your kidney status.

365 kr

Kidney tests

Kidney tests

CR

Creatinine

Kidney test
Marker Icon 1 marker
  • Measuring your Creatinine level.
  • Provides insight into how your kidneys are doing.
  • Clear report in Swedish about your values.

89 kr

EGF

eGFR (Cystatin C)

Kidney test
Marker Icon 1 marker
  • Estimates your EGFR value.
  • Provides insight into how your kidneys are doing.
  • Indication for reduced kidney function

69 kr

Other symptoms

Polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)

Cyst kidneys

Nephrotic syndrome

Nephrosclerosis

Atherosclerosis in the kidneys

Alport syndrome

Cystinosis

Kidney failure
Cart

The basket is empty.

Hos oss får du tillgång till Sveriges bredaste utbud av blodprov, hälsokontroller och MR – med läkare som alltid granskar dina provsvar.

Select tests
Sampling fee
Total
Sampling fee?

The sample collection fee is a fixed cost that refers to the visit to the clinic where you submit your sample. The fee is not affected by how many tests you have ordered, but varies depending on the order value:

Free sampling fee

For purchases over 1 000 SEK, the sampling fee is included.