What Causes Chronic Kidney Diseases?

Although chronic kidney disease sometimes results from primary diseases of the kidneys themselves, the major causes are diabetes and high blood pressure.
vType 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus cause a condition called diabetic nephropathy, which is a major cause of kidney disease .
vHigh blood pressure (hypertension), if not controlled, can damage the kidneys over time.
vGlomerulonephritis is the inflammation and damage of the filtration system of the kidney and can cause kidney failure.
vPolycystic kidney disease is an example of a hereditary cause of chronic kidney disease wherein both kidneys have multiple cysts(swelling that contains fluid).
vIndiscriminate use of pain relievers can damage the Kidney.
vClogging and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) leading to the kidneys causes a condition called ischemic nephropathy, which is another cause of progressive kidney damage.  
vObstruction of the flow of urine such as by stones, an enlarged prostate, strictures (narrowing), or cancers may also cause kidney disease.
vOther causes of chronic kidney disease include HIV infection, sickle cell disease, heroin abuse, amyloidosis, kidney stones, chronic kidney infections, and certain cancers.