What will your doctor do?

Investigate the cause of kidney disease:

• Order blood, urine and radiology tests that may help distinguish the cause of your kidney disease
• Organise a kidney biopsy if required

Investigate causes of high blood pressure:

• Your doctor may request specific investigations to assess if there are hormonal causes of high blood pressure or narrowing of the kidney arteries causing the blood pressure to rise.

Treatment plans

An integral part of your treatment is to monitor and modify risk factors that can make your kidney function worse over time. Important modifiable risk factors are blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. Your doctor may:

• Review and modify your medications. Some medications can cause further harm and have to be reduced or stopped in kidney disease.
• Prescribe medications that treat anaemia by boosting your own blood production.
• Prescribe medications to prevent complications from CKD-related bone disease.
• Some forms of kidney disease require specific treatment options for example medicines that lower the activity of the body’s immune system.
• For advanced kidney disease your doctor will provide guidance on treatment options including dialysis, transplant, and renal supportive (non-dialysis) care.

Discuss factors you can do to keep healthy

Your doctor may discuss lifestyle modifications, including changes to what you eat and adding healthy habits to your daily life to help protect your kidneys. Your doctor will liaise with your GP, other specialists and allied health care workers to ensure you receive optimal care.