Kidney Disease (Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD)

Kidney disease means the kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood as well as they should. Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, develops slowly over months or years and often has no symptoms until it is advanced, which is why it is usually found through blood and urine tests. If it progresses to kidney failure, a person needs dialysis or a transplant to survive.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that more than 35 million U.S. adults, more than 1 in every 7, have chronic kidney disease. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes. Heart disease, a family history of kidney failure, and long-term use of some medicines also raise the risk.

Kidney injury is claimed in several kinds of lawsuits. Drug cases have alleged that long-term use of certain prescription medicines, including some heartburn drugs known as proton pump inhibitors, damaged the kidneys without an adequate warning. Toxic exposure cases are another path: kidney cancer is among the illnesses claimed in lawsuits over PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam and drinking water. In each case, the person needs medical records documenting the diagnosis and proof of exposure, and courts closely examine whether other causes such as diabetes explain the damage.

Kidney disease can also affect settlements themselves, since people on dialysis may receive Medicare or Medicaid, and payments can affect benefits. See our pages on AFFF firefighting foam lawsuits and PFAS water contamination, and the guide on whether a settlement affects SSI or Medicaid.