Confused by the GFR lab results

[aatatt71]

Just got lab results and I wonder if anyone can tell me more about the GFR results. My GFR-Black is 52 and GFR-Other is 43. Do you add the GFR Black and GRF -Other to get a total GFR?

My Creatinine is 1.24. Just went to my Nephrologist (2nd visit) she said my kidneys are at 40% and I am Stage 3 CKD. This is the same thing I was told 2 months ago at my 1st appointment. I guess it's good that nothing has changed in two months. I asked about a diet, was told the only thing I should do is limit my salt. I feel that I should have more diet restrictions other than salt.

I guess I'm trying to figure out if I need another doctor or if I really can't do much else at this stage. (I have been told that I will not get better).

[movingforward]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

My lab results have an African/American GFR and just a regular GFR. I wonder if the GFR Black is refering to race? I just go by the one GFR / regular. My GFR is currently 27. When I was at stage 3, the only thing I watched was my sodium intake. I didn't have any diet restrictions at that point. I am now at stage 4 and feeling as though I could do more with my diet. I am finding a new Dr. because I want to be pro-active, and he is coming across as just "sit and wait".

My creatine stayed around 1.7 for about 3 years. My creatine just went up this last year to 2.06. I have PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) and I won't get any better either, but I do think that we can do things to prolong our kidney health and make it easier for our kidneys to fuction. For me, I have to find a Dr. that will help me do that. I hope your Dr. will help you accomplish that also.

Until then, I love the people here on this site. There is good input from a lot of sources. Because of this site, I feel that i have been empowered to ask the questions that need to be asked and have the knowlege to keep moving forward. I pray you will be able to find that also!

Hang in there and definatley let me know what you learn as you go!

Kelly

[cathys]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

Just got lab results and I wonder if anyone can tell me more about the GFR results. My GFR-Black is 52 and GFR-Other is 43. Do you add the GFR Black and GRF -Other to get a total GFR?

My Creatinine is 1.24. Just went to my Nephrologist (2nd visit) she said my kidneys are at 40% and I am Stage 3 CKD. This is the same thing I was told 2 months ago at my 1st appointment. I guess it's good that nothing has changed in two months. I asked about a diet, was told the only thing I should do is limit my salt. I feel that I should have more diet restrictions other than salt.

I guess I'm trying to figure out if I need another doctor or if I really can't do much else at this stage. (I have been told that I will not get better).

I was put on a kidney diet at the mayo clinic in MN. Check out their website. It does make a difference on what you eat.

[cathys]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

I was put on a kidney diet at the mayo clinic in MN. Check their website. It does make a difference. It does with me.

[Gary123]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

I was put on a kidney diet at the mayo clinic in MN. Check out their website. It does make a difference on what you eat.

I cant believe with a creatinine level of 1.24 you are that bad. Your GFR has to be higher than what your doc says. I am by no means a doctor, but something does not seem right here.

[Marina]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

My lab results have an African/American GFR and just a regular GFR. I wonder if the GFR Black is refering to race? I just go by the one GFR / regular. Kelly

Yes Kelly, the African American GFR is referring to the race.

[Tonia]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

Alll the calculators have a GFR for African Americans and a GFR for other races. I have often wondered why. It would be nice to hear from anyone who can answer that.

I agree with you about the diet. I'm at stage 3 and would like to be more proactive with a diet. My Neph. says to limit salt and eat a low fat sensible diet. He does not refer paients to a dietician till they reach stage 4. I don't feel that it is healthy to venture into a renal diet without knowing different blood levels. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Gary-- I think aataa71's GFR is correct. My creatinine is 1.2 and my GFR is 49. Some calculators factor in weight, BUN, and whether theres damage to the kidneys or not.

Toni

[Gary123]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

Alll the calculators have a GFR for African Americans and a GFR for other races. I have often wondered why. It would be nice to hear from anyone who can answer that.

I agree with you about the diet. I'm at stage 3 and would like to be more proactive with a diet. My Neph. says to limit salt and eat a low fat sensible diet. He does not refer paients to a dietician till they reach stage 4. I don't feel that it is healthy to venture into a renal diet without knowing different blood levels. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Gary-- I think aataa71's GFR is correct. My creatinine is 1.2 and my GFR is 49. Some calculators factor in weight, BUN, and whether theres damage to the kidneys or not.

Toni

Try this calculator, it asks for more info--http://www.medcalc.com/gfr.html.

[Gary123]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

Alll the calculators have a GFR for African Americans and a GFR for other races. I have often wondered why. It would be nice to hear from anyone who can answer that.

I agree with you about the diet. I'm at stage 3 and would like to be more proactive with a diet. My Neph. says to limit salt and eat a low fat sensible diet. He does not refer paients to a dietician till they reach stage 4. I don't feel that it is healthy to venture into a renal diet without knowing different blood levels. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Gary-- I think aataa71's GFR is correct. My creatinine is 1.2 and my GFR is 49. Some calculators factor in weight, BUN, and whether theres damage to the kidneys or not.

Toni

The MDRD study equation includes a term for the African American race to account for the
fact that African Americans have a higher GFR than Caucasians (and other races included in the
MDRD Study) at the same level of serum creatinine. This is due to higher average muscle mass
and creatinine generation rate in African Americans. Clinical laboratories may not collect data
on race and therefore may report GFR estimates using the equation for Caucasians. For African
Americans, multiply the GFR estimate for Caucasians by 1.21. cited below

http://www.kidney.org/professionals/kls/pdf/faq_gfr.pdf[/I][/B][/B]

[angieskidney]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

Alll the calculators have a GFR for African Americans and a GFR for other races. I have often wondered why. It would be nice to hear from anyone who can answer that.
Toni

Yeah as Gary said some races have a higher occurrence of kidney disease than others which directly effects the GFR. He explained it better than me however but I just wanted to make sure you knew why it was important for the GFR calculators to ask for race.

Test it out by putting in a different race and you will see you get a different result.

[hisfaithful1]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

I'm wondering what you guys think of this. I'll try to keep it short. My doctor said I have CKD stage 3, with GFR of 54, ( but when I got a copy of the lab results it said 50?) Anyway a 24 hour urine sample showed my GFR to be 74. Then the American Kidney Foundation were giving free kidney tests only 2 weeks later and I just got those reults which said my GFR was 57. So I guess my question is which one is right? I am confused to say the least, and do not know much at all about CKD, so if anyone can help I would be most grateful. I'm not even sure if its ok to post this here, but I don't know how to start a new one?

[angieskidney]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

I'm wondering what you guys think of this. I'll try to keep it short. My doctor said I have CKD stage 3, with GFR of 54, ( but when I got a copy of the lab results it said 50?) Anyway a 24 hour urine sample showed my GFR to be 74. Then the American Kidney Foundation were giving free kidney tests only 2 weeks later and I just got those reults which said my GFR was 57. So I guess my question is which one is right? I am confused to say the least, and do not know much at all about CKD, so if anyone can help I would be most grateful. I'm not even sure if its ok to post this here, but I don't know how to start a new one?

It is important to chart out the progression and not just go by one lab result. Creatinine jumps around so therefor so does GFR. It is effected by how much you drink (if you have kidneys that are working then you drink to flush out the toxins of your body and your Creatinine goes lower. You are dehydrated and Creatinine goes higher.) but if you are on dialysis then it depends on how well dialysis is clearing out the toxins of the body.

Also exercising (if you do a LOT of it) will increase Creatinine.

A doctor can explain this better. Also lab results will different a bit between different testers but should be still around the same.

Mine bounces around 23 and 27 GFR currently (I have an "extended criteria" transplant).

[hisfaithful1]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

Thanks for the reply, I just don't understand why there would be that big of a difference? I guess I have to try to be patient and see what happens over time. My doctor even told me she thought this can be reversed. I really do not know what to think. This forum is a Godsend. Just reading on here is so helpful. Blessings to you Angie

[jeffmoore]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

Hi ifathful, I wasn't fortunate enough to be monitored for the progression of CKD by the creation of the GFR, to help in monitoring the progression of CKD, but it is a Godsend creation, which in 1990, I was only told when I had developed End Stage Renal Disease (Stage 5). GFR can bounce back and forth, and it does depend on the preventive measures that the patient is following, and most importantly if they are following a proper diet and/or meds properly. The way you eat, your activiities, and in some cases how much you consume in fluid, could be a factor in the advance stages. Say for example, b/p can change throughout the day, as well as the creatinine, (jumping high and low, and vice a versa). As follows, the GFR Rate in CKD Stages

Stage 1 - 90% - Function - Diagnosed and take preventive measures early on, to try to reverse the cause of decreased kidney function. - 130

Stage 2 - 60-89% - kidney function - try to stem the progression of chronic kidney disease
- 90

Stage 3 - 30-59% - kidney function - to prolong this stage for as long as possible - 60

Stage 4 - 15-29% - kidney function - Explore dialysis/transplantation - 30

Stage 5 - Less than 15% - Dialysis/Transplant is required for continued survival - 15-0

By the way ifathful, what is the nature of your development of chronic kidney disease, because this also plays a factor in your GFR progress.

I hope this helps. I have followed my sister through the years of her progression of CKD.

Glo

[Tonia]

Re: Confused by the GFR lab results

hisfaithful 1, Good morning. I agree, don't know why there would be a 20 pt.difference in the GFR. Did you get a copy of the labs? I know creatinine jumps around a little ( as Angie said ) but I would question the Dr. My Dr. stresses to be well hydrated before the test. When I was first diagnosed, it was after an illness. Soon after I saw a Neph. who did 2 ultrasounds and determined my kidneys showed some damage therefore the lost function will not come back. I have read that some people in stage 2 or early stage 3 may regain normal function if the problem causing it is solved. Have you had an ultrasound?

Others may be more of help to you but I would talk to your Dr. about your concerns.

Take care, Toni