Chronic Kidney Disease is defined as a permanent and irreversible reduction in kidney function. Over twenty million Americans have some degree of kidney disease.

1. The buttons to the left provides useful definitions, vocabulary and links to other sites for patients with kidney disease.

2. The link under INFORMATION (to the Left) provides the MDRD calculator for kidney function.

3. The chart below the MDRD link defines the stages of Chronic Kidney Disease as developed by the National Kidney foundation in their K/DOQI guidelines.

         Most recently the stages have been updated capturing clinical feedback on chronic kidney disease management.

        Stage 3 (where most patients are who are referred for Nephrology care) has been divided into 3a and 3b reflecting the vast differences in the clinical processes and therapeutic options available to this category.