What Does Borderline Kidney Blood Test Mean
Where the GFR rate is borderline, a diagnosis of CKD may need to be confirmed with a further blood test. People are classified as having CKD when their GFR is below 60 i.e. Stages 35. Symptoms tend to be quite vague and are often. attributed to other illnesses such as colds or the ‘flu’. Testing for CKD.
What Is Normal Kidney Function Level
A GFR of 60 or higher is in the normal range. A GFR below 60 may mean kidney disease. A GFR of 15 or lower may mean kidney failure.
What test shows kidney function percentage?
eGFR Estimated glomerular filtration rate is the best test to measure your level of kidney function and determine your stage of kidney disease. Your doctor can calculate it from the results of your blood creatinine test, your age, body size and gender.
Kidney Disease And Cardiovascular Risks
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in people with chronic kidney disease. Compared to the general population, people with chronic kidney disease are two to three times more likely to have cardiovascular problems such as:
This increased risk is partly caused by factors common to both chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure. However, researchers are discovering that chronic kidney disease is, in itself, an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, and a history of cardiovascular disease is a risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease.
The kidneys regulate water and salts, remove certain wastes and make various hormones. Kidney disease increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in many ways, including:
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Why Do I Need A Gfr Test
Early stage kidney disease doesnt usually cause symptoms. But you may need a GFR test if you are at higher risk of getting kidney disease. Risk factors include:
- Family history of kidney failure
Later stage kidney disease does cause symptoms. So you may need a GFR test if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Urinating more or less often than usual
- Loss of appetite
All You Need To Know About Reading Your Kidney Function Test Report
Written by Dr Anitha Anchan | Published : May 5, 2016 6:26 PM IST
Kidneys regulate urinary system and filter out toxins from the body. They control water and mineral levels and help maintain blood pressure and acid- base levels in the body. An infection, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, autoimmune disorders, habitual pill-popping or physical damage can cause kidney dysfunction. Kidney disease is no more a disease of the elderly. Sedentary lifestyle and addiction to smoking and liquor are taking a toll on the kidneys of the youth.
Kidney function tests what are they?
Several markers in the blood and urine can help identify kidney function. Urea and creatinine are the gold standard markers to detect kidney disease. Kidney function tests are simple blood and urine tests that check whether your kidneys are working properly by measuring the levels of markers. They help identify problems with the functioning of your kidneys. Various kidney function tests are:
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When Should I Get A Renal Panel Test
A renal panel test can be used in a range of circumstances, and the doctor may include specific measurements depending on your situation.
As a diagnostic test, a renal panel is most frequently used when you have symptoms that could be explained by a kidney problem. Examples of symptoms that can be tied to kidney impairment or disease include:
- Urinary changes including changes to the frequency, quantity, or appearance of your urine
- Unexplained swelling, especially in your arms, hands, legs, and/or face
- Muscle cramps or pain
A test like the renal panel may also be used for diagnosis when you have general symptoms without a clear cause or are being evaluated in an urgent care or emergency setting.
As a screening test, the renal panel or other tests of kidney health are most often prescribed if you have certain risk factors for kidney disease. Some of these risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, and a family history of kidney disease.
For people with an elevated risk of kidney problems, screening with a renal panel may be part of normal health checkups. Screening of this type is not standard in people who do not have risk factors.
A renal panel can be used as a monitoring test if you have had kidney problems in the past or have already had an abnormal renal panel test. If you are receiving treatment for kidney injury or disease, a renal panel may be used to gauge your response to that therapy.
Four Key Concepts And Talking Points
1. Talk to patients about their kidneys, CKD, and their risk.
What is CKD? CKD means the kidneys are damaged and may no longer filter blood well. This damage happens over many years. As more damage occurs, the kidneys are unable to keep the body healthy – then dialysis or a kidney transplant may be needed to maintain health.
How can I lower my risk for CKD? The steps you take to manage your diabetes and high blood pressure also help protect your kidneys. Choosing healthy foods, quitting smoking, and being more physically active are all important steps.
2. Communicate the importance of testing and how CKD is diagnosed.
What are the symptoms of CKD? Most people with CKD have no symptoms until their kidneys are about to fail. The only way to know if you have kidney disease is to get tested. The sooner kidney disease is found, the sooner you can take steps to begin treatment and keep your kidneys healthier longer.
How do you check for CKD? A blood test and a urine test are used to find kidney disease. Because you are at risk, you should get these tests regularly:
- GFR – A blood test measures how much blood your kidneys filter each minute, which is known as your glomerular filtration rate .
- Urine Albumin – A urine test checks for albumin in your urine. Albumin is a protein that can pass into the urine when the filters in the kidneys are damaged.
3. Explain the progressive nature of CKD and the basics of treatment.
4. Begin to speak about dialysis and transplantation.
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Kidney Testing: Everything You Need To Know
If you have diabetes, your doctor will likely recommend you have one or more kidney tests to check the health of your kidneys.
If you have diabetes, you have a higher risk for chronic kidney disease. Your doctor will likely recommend you have one or more kidney tests to check the health of your kidneys. The sooner you know the health of your kidneys, the sooner you can take steps to protect them. Knowledge is powerlearn about what these tests do and what your results could mean.
Chronic kidney disease is a condition in which the kidneys become damaged over time and cannot filter blood as well as they should. Diabetes is a leading cause of CKD, which often causes no symptoms until your kidneys are badly damaged.
The good news is that if you find and treat kidney disease early, you may be able to keep CKD from getting worse and prevent other health problems such as heart disease. But the only way to know how well your kidneys are working is to get tested.
If you have diabetes, you know how important it is to prevent complications like CKD. Your doctor will want to check your kidney health, usually by testing your urine and blood.
Diabetes And Kidney Disease
About 20 to 30 per cent of people with diabetes develop a type of kidney disease called diabetic nephropathy. This is a serious disease and may worsen other diabetic complications such as nerve and eye damage, as well as increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Diabetic nephropathy is the main cause of kidney failure .
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Biopsy For Kidney Disease
A biopsy means that a small piece of tissue is taken for testing in a laboratory. Biopsies used in the investigation of kidney disease may include:
- kidney biopsy the doctor inserts a special needle into the back, under local anaesthesia, to obtain a small sample of kidney tissue. A kidney biopsy can confirm a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease.
- bladder biopsy the doctor inserts a thin tube into the bladder via the urethra. This allows the doctor to view the inside of the bladder and check for abnormalities. This procedure is called a cystoscopy. The doctor may take a biopsy of bladder tissue for examination in a laboratory.
Your doctor may arrange other tests, depending on the suspected cause of your kidney disorder.
What Is A Kidney Function Or Kft Test
As the name suggests, it is a panel of tests to check the proper functioning of the Kidney. The test includes a number of parameters which are essential to determine the health of Kidneys.
Though in general, a KFT test is done on the blood sample, sometimes urine sample is also tested for certain parameters. However, testing of the urine sample is not common. Urine sample test is suggested if the doctor comprehend the specific problem related the kidneys.
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What Do My Results Mean
Interpreting blood test results can be difficult. Your doctor or nurse will contact you if there is anything that needs discussing or if further action is needed.
A low eGFR suggests impaired kidney function. This may be due to acute or chronic kidney disease. Some of the causes of reduced kidney function include:
- diabetes mellitus
- high blood pressure
- urinary tract obstruction such as from a kidney stone
- reduced blood flow to your kidneys due to shock, dehydration, congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis or complications of diabetes
- certain medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, lithium, certain Chinese herbs, or some poisons
- polycystic kidney disease
Prevention Of Kidney Disease
Medication and changes to lifestyle, along with an early referral to a kidney specialist , can prevent or delay kidney failure.
Heathy lifestyle choices to keep your kidneys functioning well include:
- Eat lots of fruit and vegetables including legumes and grain-based food such as bread, pasta, noodles and rice.
- Eat lean meat such as chicken and fish each week.
- Eat only small amounts of salty or fatty food.
- Drink plenty of water instead of other drinks. Minimise consumption of sugary soft drinks.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Stay fit. Do at least 30 minutes of physical activity that increases your heart rate on five or more days of the week, including walking, lawn mowing, bike riding, swimming or gentle aerobics.
- If you dont smoke, dont start. If you do, quit. Call the Quitline or ask your doctor for help with quitting.
- Limit your alcohol to no more than two small drinks per day if you are male, or one small drink per day if you are female.
- Have your blood pressure checked regularly.
- Do things that help you relax and reduce your stress levels.
A range of medication is available for high blood pressure. Different blood pressure medications work in different ways, so it is not unusual for more than one type to be prescribed. The dose may change according to your needs.
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What Is The Best Treatment For Me
You should consider many things when choosing a treatment for kidney failure, including your lifestyle, your age, any other health problems you may have, and whether you have a friend or relative to help you. Your decision should be based on more than your medical history and your doctors opinion. It should also be based on what you and your family wants. Learning about your treatment choices will help you decide which one is best for you.
When Do You Need A Kidney Function Test
Routine blood tests may include a kidney function test, which is a common procedure that is done:
- When you want a general assessment of your health.
- When you suspect dehydration and your urea levels increase.
- When you are suspected to have kidney failure. High blood levels of creatinine and urea suggest that your kidneys are not working optimally. Blood creatinine levels serve as a marker of kidney function, and high levels indicate that the kidneys may be failing. This may suggest that you need dialysis treatment if creatinine levels reach a critical value.
- When you want to make sure your kidneys are working properly before and after treatment with certain medications. Some medicines can cause kidney damage and it is important to check their function before and after therapy.
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Where Can I Find Diabetes Relief
While there are prescription drugs for diabetes, nothing rather does the job totally. Thanks to current breakthroughs in scientific research studies & research study conducted at specialized diabetes centers across the nations, theres a brand-new service to speed up the outcomes & relief youre looking for.
Through the research study done by our authors, one extra procedure worth thinking about is natural supplements. Usually speaking, natural supplements have existed for thousands of years with amazing outcomes and have actually begun to make a huge return recently. Whats the natural supplement best for rapidly supporting diabetes? Let us introduce Glucofort.
How Is A Renal Panel Test Different From A Creatinine Clearance Test
A creatinine clearance test includes both a blood and urine sample. The amount of creatinine is measured in each sample, and then the two figures are compared. This comparison provides a method for estimating the glomerular filtration rate and evaluating kidney function.
In contrast, a renal panel uses only a blood sample. While a standard renal panel measures creatinine in the blood, it does not include a urine collection or comparative measurement.
The renal panel also includes a more diverse set of measurements, including proteins, minerals, and electrolytes, than a creatinine clearance test.
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What Is Kidney Transplantation
Kidney transplantation involves placing a healthy kidney into your body where it can perform all of the functions that a failing kidney cant. Kidneys for transplantation come from two sources: living donors and deceased donors. Living donors are usually immediate family members or sometimes spouses. This is possible because a person can live well with one healthy kidney.
What Blood Tests Indicate Poor Kidney Function
Serum creatinine test The kidneys usually completely filter creatinine from the blood. A high level of creatinine suggests a kidney problem. According to the National Kidney Foundation , a creatinine level higher than 1.2 milligrams/deciliter for women and 1.4 mg/dL for men is a sign of a kidney problem.
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Routine Kidney Function Test: Blood Tests
To check if your kidneys are working properly, there are several kidney function tests that may be used in clinical practice. Among all the types, blood tests are often used as a routine test.
1. Serum Creatinine
This measures creatinine in the serum or blood, which is a waste product of normal metabolism. The amount of creatinine in the blood varies depending on various factors, such as age and size of your body. When elevated, it indicates an early sign of kidney dysfunction.
Normal range: 0.8 to 1.4 mg/dl . If creatinine level is greater than 1.2 mg/dl for women or 1.4 mg/dl for men, kidney disease may be suspected.
2. Glomerular Filtration Rate
To measure how well your kidneys are removing waste and excess fluid from your blood, GFR is calculated using serum creatinine levels, your age, body size andweight.
Normal range: Normal GFR is 90 and above, with zero or little protein in the urine. A GFR value below 60 indicates that your kidneys are not working well. If below 15, kidney failure has set in.
3. Blood Urea Nitrogen
After the body breaks down the protein from the foods you eat, urea nitrogen is produced . If elevated, reduced kidney function is suspected.
Normal BUN range: 7 to 20mg/dl.
What Color Is Urine When Your Kidneys Are Failing
When kidneys are failing, the increased concentration and accumulation of substances in urine lead to a darker color which may be brown, red or purple. The color change is due to abnormal protein or sugar, high levels of red and white blood cells, and high numbers of tube-shaped particles called cellular casts.
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What Do The Results Mean
Your GFR results may show one of the following:
- Normalyou probably dont have kidney disease
- Below normalyou may have kidney disease
- Far below normalyou may have kidney failure
If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
How Much Does The Test Cost
There is no universal fixed price for a renal panel test.
Different charges that can figure into the total price include office visits, fees related to the blood draw procedure, and costs of laboratory analysis. How much is billed for these charges can depend on several factors including:
- Where the blood draw is performed
- The laboratory that performs the testing
- The specific measurements included in the renal panel
- Whether you have health insurance
Many health insurance plans will cover some or all of the costs of a renal panel if the test is prescribed by your doctor, but some costs, such as for a deductible or copays, may still have to be paid out of pocket.
For more detailed information about what will be covered and your expected costs, talk directly with your doctors office and your health insurance company.
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