How long to live if your kidney is 5% left?

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER and thank you for a very interesting question.

The kidneys are located in the abdomen toward the back, normally one on each side of the spine. They work as filters, playing key roles in body function, not only by filtering the blood and getting rid of waste products, but also by balancing levels of electrolyte levels in the body, controlling blood pressure, and stimulating the production of red blood cells.

Kidney failure can occur from an acute situation or from chronic problems. In acute renal failure, kidney function is lost rapidly. Chronic renal failure develops over months and years.

Once kidney failure is present, the goal is to prevent further deterioration of renal function. Early diagnosis offers the best prognosis.

Dialysis, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, cleanses the body of waste products by use of filter systems. If kidney failure occurs and is non-reversible, kidney transplantation is an alternative option to dialysis.

Anonymous, are you asking about a 5% remaining level of function in one kidney or both kidneys? Each case is individual and depends on type of kidney failure, what treatment options have been tried, and the success rate. If you are asking about a specific case, you must consult the attending physician.

Regards,
Maryann