Description
Gastrointestinal (G.I.) symptoms are common in
chronic renal disease. Upper gastrointestinal symptoms
include dyspepsia, vomiting, anorexia and early satiety.
Lower gastrointestinal tract symptoms include diarrhoea
and constipation. Disordered motility, infections, drugs
and metabolic derangement contribute to these symptoms
to varying degrees.
Primary renal disease, or its treatment, may affect the
G.I. tract secondarily. The kidneys and G.I. tract may
both suffer as target organs when a primary systemic
disease exists, such as diabetes mellitus, autoimmune
disease, vasculitis and systemic amyloidosis. The
symptoms and mechanisms of various disorders in which
both renal and G.I. problems co-exist, are reviewed.
