In addition, as the condition progresses, it usually creates a feedback of conditions that make it worse. For example, the most common cause is high blood pressure. However, as kidney function declines, blood pressure rises to allow more blood to be processed through the damaged kidneys, which makes the conditions worse. About 75% of cases are caused by high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and inflammation of the blood vessels in the kidneys. Other common causes are diseases of the large blood vessels, lupus and kidney stones.