Q: I am suffering from a parenchymal disease. My creatinine level is 4.7mg/dl and blood urea 102mg/dl. The sodium & potassium are normal and haemoglobin is 12g/dl. I am 20 years old. Please suggest if there is any medicine to control my creatinine and blood urea? Is there any treatment except kidney transplantation in the world? When I was 10 years old, I had a mild kidney infection and the child specialist found RBC in my urine. For the last 1 year I am hypertensive, but with atenolol my blood pressure is normal. Also, advise me on my diet.

A:You have chronic kidney disease. I guess the kidney biopsy has not been done. If kidney size is good then it must be done to find the type of kidney disease that has caused kidney dysfunction. By and large, once kidney dysfunction is chronic it is progressive. Your calculated percentage of kidney function is 23% and once kidney function goes down to 10-15%, then either dialysis or kidney transplant will be required. Your blood pressure control should be meticulous with a target of <130/80. You should have 2000 calories, 42 gms protein & about 3-4 gms salt. Avoid dry fruits, fruit juices, soups and chocolates. The latter are high potassium containing eatables which should be avoided. The diet should include 500 ml of toned milk or milk products like Dahi, in a day, 8 chapatis, 2 katoris of Dal, vegetables, some rice, 2 cups of tea, sandwich 1-2 or cookies & sweets. You can add an egg or chicken (100 gms) or fish or paneer twice a week depending on whether you are vegetarian or non vegetarian. Kidney transplant, whenever required, is the best form of treatment for advanced kidney failure.