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Medical Author:

Pranay Kathuria, MD, FACP, FASN

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis

There is no cure for chronic kidney disease. The natural course of the disease is to progress until dialysis or transplant is required.

• Patients with chronic kidney disease are at a much higher risk than the general population to develop strokes and heart attacks.
  
  
• People undergoing dialysis have an overall five year survival rate of 32%. The elderly and those with diabetes have worse outcomes.
  
  
• Recipients of a kidney transplant from a living related donor have a two year survival rate greater than 90%.
  
  
• Recipients of a kidney from a donor who has died have a two year survival rate of 88%.