End-stage renal disease is best defined as which condition?

• A. Acute kidney injury
• B. Chronic renal failure
• C. Kidney stones
• D. Acute liver failure

Answer: (B)

End-stage renal disease is the final, irreversible phase of chronic kidney disease, where kidney function falls to a critically low level (often defined as a glomerular filtration rate around 15 mL/min/1.73 m^2 or less) and ongoing renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis or transplantation, is required to sustain life. This distinguishes it from acute kidney injury, which is a sudden, potentially reversible decline in function; from kidney stones, which are a localized obstruction; and from acute liver failure, which involves the liver rather than the kidneys. So the description that best fits is the progressed, end-stage stage of chronic kidney disease needing dialysis or transplant.