Symptoms

Early Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease

Last reviewed October 28, 2026 · General information, not medical advice

This article is general information. Your nephrologist or renal dietitian knows your lab results and can tell you what is right for you.

One of the most important things to know about chronic kidney disease (CKD) is that it often causes no symptoms at first. This article describes what official sources say about signs and symptoms. Symptoms alone cannot tell you whether you have CKD or how advanced it is, and many of them have other causes.

Early CKD is often silent

NIDDK states that most people have no symptoms in the early stages of CKD and that many have none until the disease is advanced. The NHS says the same: kidney disease does not tend to cause symptoms at an early stage. For this reason blood and urine tests are often the only way to find it. The tests are explained in Kidney Function Tests: eGFR, Creatinine and ACR Explained.

Symptoms that can appear

NIDDK says swelling, called edema, can occur in the legs, feet and ankles, and less often in the hands or face. It is more likely when the disease is very advanced or when a lot of protein leaks into the urine.

For stage 3, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) lists possible symptoms such as urinating more or less often than usual, itchy or dry skin, tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss without trying.

Symptoms of advanced CKD

NIDDK describes the signs of advanced CKD in a few groups. Some involve the stomach and appetite, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss. Some involve energy and the mind, such as tiredness, sleep problems and trouble concentrating. Others show up in the body: muscle cramps, swelling that gets worse, and itching, numbness, or skin that is dry or darker than usual. Changes in how often you pass urine, or foamy urine, are also on the list. Finally, NIDDK mentions chest pain and shortness of breath.

The NHS lists a similar set, including weight loss and poor appetite, swollen ankles, feet or hands, shortness of breath, tiredness, blood in the urine, an increased need to urinate, particularly at night, difficulty sleeping, itchy skin, muscle cramps, feeling sick and headaches.

When to seek advice

The NHS advises seeing a GP if you have persistent or worrying symptoms that you think could be caused by kidney disease, and says that if you have CKD it is best to get it diagnosed as soon as possible. In the United States, the equivalent step is to talk to your doctor or another health care professional. If you have sudden, severe symptoms such as chest pain or trouble breathing, seek emergency care.

NIDDK recommends testing for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or a family history of kidney failure, even when they feel well. Read about these links in High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Your Kidneys.

If you have been diagnosed

A diagnosis can arrive without any warning signs. Our guide Newly Diagnosed With CKD: Your First Steps collects what official sources suggest, and the big picture is in What Is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Related reading

• Kidney Function Tests: eGFR, Creatinine and ACR
• What Is CKD? Causes, Symptoms and Stages
• Newly Diagnosed With CKD: First Steps

Sources

• NIDDK: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), all content
• NIDDK: What Is Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults? (reviewed February 2025)
• NHS: Chronic kidney disease, symptoms (page reviewed 22 March 2023)
• National Kidney Foundation: Stage G3a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

We summarize these pages in our own words. Figures are quoted as the sources give them, with the dates shown, and official pages can be updated, so please check the originals.