What is the primary objective of hemodialysis in CKD management?

• A. Remove waste products and excess fluids from the blood.
• B. Cure kidney disease.
• C. Restore kidney function to normal permanently.
• D. Replace all hormones produced by kidneys.

Answer: (A)

Hemodialysis is a blood-filtering therapy used when kidney function is severely reduced, so its main purpose is to remove waste products and excess fluids from the blood. The dialysis machine and a dialyzer work like an artificial kidney: waste solutes such as urea and creatinine move from the blood into the dialysate by diffusion, and excess fluid is removed through ultrafiltration, helping to control volume status, electrolyte balance, and toxin buildup. This treatment manages symptoms and complications of kidney failure but does not cure the underlying kidney disease or permanently restore normal kidney function. It also doesn’t replace all hormonal functions of the kidneys; while dialysis helps with filtration, some hormone-related roles (like erythropoietin production and vitamin D activation) may still require additional medical management.