Kidneys can fail for many different reasons.

Common causes of kidney failure are listed below. Most of these conditions occur over a long period of time and cause damage to both kidneys. Even if further deterioration can be stopped, the damage already done is usually permanent.

Leading causes of kidney failure in the western world are:

Early diagnosis and careful management of these conditions can delay and even prevent the onset of kidney failure.

In many cases of chronic kidney failure, no cause can be determined.