The ins and outs of Eron’s CKD treatment

In the hopes of learning more about the severity of Eron Wright’s chronic kidney disease (CKD), the NEWS got in touch with the medical practitioner treating him.

Wright, an Eastleigh resident, was diagnosed with the disease in July and is treated at Optimum Kidney Dialysis Care facility.

He receives haemodialysis at the Karaglen facility three times a week.

Wright was only diagnosed at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital after he visited three other hospitals.

He first noticed unusual symptoms in April this year.

Without the dialysis, Wright would likely die, and, as a result, he is trying to raise funds to continue treatment.

Clinical technologist from the Karaglen facility Kailash Ramsunder said Wright’s initial high levels of urea and creatinine are gradually decreasing because of the treatment.

“He started with low haemoglobin (Hb) as one of the functions of the kidney is to secrete a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates the production of red blood cells by activating bone marrow,” said Ramsunder.

“When a patient is diagnosed with the disease, EPO secretion diminishes which was the case with Eron.”

Ramsunder said because of Wright’s financial constraints, he is giving him injections from excess stock to increase the haemoglobin.

Ramsunder explained that the disease can be traumatic and emotional for the patient as treatment includes lifestyle changes.

The changes include dietary restrictions and fluid consumption restrictions with quite a few other changes.

“Eron, at first, seemed astonished and showed some difficulty in trying to grasp the number of changes that needed to happen and the overload of information I was feeding him,” explained Ramsunder.

“After a while, he accepted that was the point that he had reached in his life and that he had to do the best he could to stay alive.”

During haemodialysis, a dialysis machine pump pulls blood from a patient and allows it to flow through plastic piping through an artificial kidney or dialyser.

Once this is done, the machine pumps the patient’s blood back into their system, mimicking the action of the kidneys in the best way possible.

“Some of the functions of the kidney are to excrete excess fluid and waste products from the body, controlling blood pressure and producing EPO.”

Ramsunder said dialysis has been keeping Wright alive.

“If Eron does not receive treatment, his urea, creatinine, potassium would have accumulated and placed strain on his body.

“His body would not have been able to handle this strain for a prolonged period.”

Additionally, excessive fluid would have accumulated in Wright’s body.

“The fluid accumulation, along with the build-up of waste products in his blood, would have contributed to swelling and an imbalance throughout his body, which would have resulted in an imminent death without treatment.”

Ramsunder said since entering the field 10 years ago, the number of those diagnosed with CKD is rising exponentially.

“The main reasons for CKD are diabetes and hypertension, or high blood pressure.”

Other causes include glomerulonephritis [inflammation of the filtering units of the kidney], polycystic kidney disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Ramsunder explained that dialysis for patients with CKD is available at most hospitals.

“Space and availability in public hospitals is a major problem.”

“Private hospitals and independent dialysis centres can accommodate patients with CKD who are on medical aid.”

“If the patient is not on medical aid, they would be required to pay cash for their treatment.”

To assist Wright, email wright.petra@gmail.com or eron.wright27@gmail.com for more information.