MAA-MEDIcare Kidney charity Fund

The kidneys have a big reserve capacity ?damage can occur to the kidneys without causing noticeable failure in its functions. Damage to the kidneys can be divided into two types: one-off, or progressive. A one-off damage to the kidney results in acute kidney failure - in this condition the kidney usually recovers and returns to near normal function with time. However slow, continuous kidney damage causes chronic kidney failure. The degree of kidney damage in chronic kidney failure allows us to divide it into five stages:

Stage I: >90% normal kidney function
Stage II: 60 - 90% normal kidney function Stage
III: 30 - 60% normal kidney function Stage
IV: 15 - 30% normal kidney function Stage
V: <15% normal kidney function

Stage V is often termed end-stage kidney failure where replacement of kidney function is necessary to prevent severe disability and/or death.