Now that you know your eGFR, find out your kidney disease stage using the table below. A plus sign next to the number [1+, 2+, etc] means that the information is found within the full scientific study rather than the abstract. If your eGFR is less than 60 for three months or more, your kidneys may not be working well. Understanding race-neutral eGFR calculations - OPTN eGFR is considered a mostly reliable test for doctors to know how well your kidneys are working. which enables users to obtain detailed information and reports based on their genome. Aside from CKD, creatinine levels can be affected by other factors including diet; muscle (weight of your muscles); malnutrition; and other chronic illnesses. Many healthcare professionals recommend the. Eating welland regular exercise are good habits for overall health and kidney health and are a great way to take control of your health. Generally, the higher the number, the better your kidney function. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Your support helps families facing kidney disease at every step of their journey. Other deeper investigations can then be carried out to find out whether the high levels of creatinine truly indicate a decreased kidney function, and patients should discuss what these may be with an experienced nephrologist. High eGFR is normally found in pregnancy [13]. These filters help remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. These filters help remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. professional at your appointments. 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Your doctor may want to do other tests to look for signs of kidney problems, such as: The result is often listed as milliliters per minute per 1.73 square meters of body surface area (mL/min/1/.73m2). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Stage 2 (eGFR between 60 and 89) indicates an increase in kidney damage from stage 1, but the kidneys continue to function well. It is extremely necessary to have an open and detailed conversation about your eGFR result with your healthcare provider. Aside from CKD, creatinine levels can be affected by other factors including diet; muscle(weight of your muscles); malnutrition; and other chronic illnesses. In 2020, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) formed ajoint task forceto review the use of race in eGFR calculations. When the filtration rate decreases that means the kidneys are not working well and may mean there is kidney damage [2]. Do something active for at least 30 minutes most days of the week, such as walking or biking. This GFR test is an assessment of how well this filtration process is working. Chronic kidney disease measured by eGFR has the following stages: However, for values in the range of 60 89 mL/min/1.73 m2, doctors will consider kidney disease only if there is additional evidence of kidney damage, such as polycystic kidney disease (cysts in the kidneys), proteinuria (protein in the urine), or hematuria (blood in the urine). The average eGFR for someone in their 20s is about 116 mL/min/1.73m2. Currently the test considers your age, sex and race, among other things. While most commonly used, creatinine is not the only substance that can be used to estimate GFR. When you get an eGFR test, a simple urine test called the uACR will also be done to check for blood or albumin (a type of protein) in the urine. eGFR measures your kidneys ability to filter toxins or waste from your blood. your urine for albumin to have a complete picture of your overall kidney health, Repeat It was thought the reason why was due to differences in muscle mass, diet, and the way the kidneys eliminate creatinine. The Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute offers innovative treatments in urology and kidney medicine, including minimally invasive, scarless options for urologic procedures and medical management of kidney disease. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". GFR is affected by many factors, such as [1]: It is hard to directly measure ones GFR. My egfr non African American is 55, categorized as low I'm - JustAnswer The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) shows how well the kidneys are filtering. Its primary role is to facilitate a simpler interpretation of biomarkers of renal disease, primarily creatinine and cystatin C. Currently, 89% of labs surveyed by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) report eGFR alongside serum creatinine. My eGFR was 55. Is this an early sign of kidney disease? GFR and creatinine are usually measured and reported together. 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. Overall assessment of their patients In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. A family history of kidney disease could also necessitate this test. https://www.kidneyfund.org/all-about-kidneys/tests/blood-test-egfr, https://www.kidney.org/content/kidney-failure-risk-factor-estimated-glomerular-filtration-rate-egfr, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/advanced-search/explain-kidney-test-results, https://www.testing.com/tests/estimated-glomerular-filtration-rate-egfr/. There are five stages of kidney disease. Your healthcare team will do a simple blood test to find out your eGFR. . Our technology helps to understand, combine, track, organize, and act on your medical lab test results. Higher creatinine = impaired kidney function [5, 6, 7]. Read on to learn more about this marker, what it means when your values are outside of the normal range, and how you can increase your eGFR levels. Estimated GFR is one of the key tests for diagnosing kidney disease. 150, E-Consultation: To assess kidney damage or find the cause of an abnormal eGFR, your healthcare provider may order one or more of these tests: If you have kidney disease or disease risk factors, call your healthcare provider if you experience: Monitoring your eGFR is important if youre at risk for kidney disease or already have it, including if you take certain medications. - Discuss any vitamins, minerals, herbs, weight loss or body building supplements with your healthcare team before taking them. Use this chart to see what your eGFR may mean. A glomerular filtration rate (GFR) test evaluates kidney function. Dr David Game is a leading consultant nephrologist based in London who specialises in transplantation, dialysis and chronic disease of the kidney. eGFR is considered a mostly reliable test for doctors to know how well your kidneys are working. People of African ancestry have a higher eGFR. (https://www.kidney.org/sites/default/files/12-10-4004_FAQ-ABE.pdf). If the EGFR is very low, then this suggests that kidney . If your eGFR number is low, your kidneys may not be working as well as they should. Accordingly, your healthcare provider will look at these things, if any apply to you, before making a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD), or ordering further tests to confirm the diagnosis. Understanding African American and non-African American eGFR laboratory An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 48 milliliters per minute per 1.73 meters squared, means that you may have Stage 3 chronic kidney disease. This is the reason why reliable estimates of GFR are so important for identifying CKD as early as possible. Contribute to our mission with a general, memorial, or honor donation. He is additionally expert in hypertension as well as acute kidney injuries and kidney stones. Assistant Professor, Critical Care. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, to support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease from prevention through post-transplant living. Therefore cystatin C-based calculation of eGFR is more accurate in some circumstances. You should also note that your eGFR test result can be influenced by many factors. Kidney function : Egfr is estimated glomerular filtration rate a measure of kidney function. He is additionally expert in hypertension as well as acute kidney injuries and kidney stones. Can GFR Be Improved? Lifestyle Changes That May Help - Healthline your eGFR test in 3 months to check if your eGFR remains lower than 90, Take Eating less than 2000 mg a day of sodium is recommended. Most often, the GFR is estimated by measuring another substance. Ask your doctor about medicines that may help protect your kidneys. The marker may also be included in your yearly general wellness labs that look at general kidney function. If youve been diagnosed with kidney disease from your eGFR test results, your pracitioner may order the following tests for you: Kidney biopsy: This test involves taking a small price of your kidney for microscopic examination. You may need to fast (drink only liquids and not eat solid foods) for a time before the test. An eGFR is an estimation of the approximate percentage of kidney function and there are normals for black individuals and also for non-black individuals. Align your health hacks with your genes for optimal health & cognitive function. A GFR below 60 may mean kidney disease. In those older than 70 years, values below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 can be normal [12]. eGFR is a measure of how well your kidneys are working. Normal is 100-110. Your healthcare team may also ask you to see a kidney doctor, called a nephrologist, who will consult on your case and help manage your care. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. Race was originally included in eGFR calculations because clinical trials demonstrated that people who self-identify as Black/African American can have, on average, higher levels of creatinine in their blood. What are the stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD)? Many different equations can be used to derive an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Because the "good" creatinine number is different in everyone, GFR is more accurate in determining if your kidneys are ok. Later stage CKD does cause symptoms. Kidneys process about 50 gallons (180 liters) of blood every day to produce about 50 ounces (1.5 liters) of urine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 106. Your kidneys filter your blood by removing waste and extra water to make urine. SelfDecode is a personalized health report service, Dr Game studied for a bachelors degree in pharmacology at the University of Cambridge before qualifying in medicine at the University of Oxford in 1996. eGFR helps providers detect the disease early so that you can start treatments to slow or stop kidney damage. For example, if you havediabetes, the most important thing you can do to protect your remaining kidney function is to keep your blood sugar under control. 11th ed. Race is not a biological concept, but a social construct. 17,734 satisfied customers. It is for this reason that healthcare professionals use a formula to estimate GFR. If your eGFR number is low, your kidneys may not be working as well as they should. Alternative Names: GFR; Estimated GFR; eGFR. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information. Two types of blood pressure medicationsACE inhibitors and ARBscan slow CKD and delay kidney failure, even in people who do not have high blood pressure. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Many of these products can hurt your kidneys. In general, a "good" GFR number is above 60, and a "good" creatinine number is below 1.2. There are typically no restrictions after blood is drawn for the test. Also, people who self-identify as multiracial might not want to be put in a single racial bucket. The use of race in calculating eGFR has been a subject of debate. Before joining SelfHacked, she was a research scientist with extensive field and laboratory experience. High GFR may reflect hyperfiltration, which typically occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus and obesity. Instead, healthcare providers use a formula to come up with an estimated GFR (eGFR). Choose the one that best applies to you [ 1 ]. Understand what eGFR is. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. It is possible to slow the progression of kidney disease by taking good care of yourself by following a healthy diet and exercising. Contribute to our mission with a general, memorial, or honor donation. They produce more creatinine and have more muscle mass than non-Black people.