ESRD
Medical abbreviation · Nephrology & Urology
| Stands for | End-stage renal disease |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ESRD stands for End-stage renal disease, a nephrology & urology abbreviation.
Long-standing US term for kidney failure that requires dialysis or a transplant to sustain life, usually corresponding to CKD stage 5. It remains embedded in Medicare rules, billing codes and the national registry even as nephrologists move to newer terminology.
Example: ESRD on hemodialysis MWF via left arm AV fistula; dry weight 72 kg.
Usage notes
The Social Security Amendments of 1972 extended Medicare to nearly everyone with ESRD regardless of age, a unique disease-based entitlement that still funds most US dialysis. A 2019 KDIGO nomenclature conference recommended "kidney failure" instead, partly because "end-stage" sounds hopeless to patients. The United States Renal Data System (USRDS) tracks ESRD statistics.
Related abbreviations
More nephrology & urology abbreviations
- CVVH – Continuous venovenous hemofiltration
- CVVHDF – Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration
- DKD – Diabetic kidney disease
- DRE – Digital rectal exam
- ED – Erectile dysfunction
- ESKD – End-stage kidney disease
- ESWL – Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
- FENa – Fractional excretion of sodium
- FSGS – Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
- GN – Glomerulonephritis
- GU – Genitourinary
- HD – Hemodialysis
See all 71 nephrology & urology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.