The short answer If a kidney biopsy report mentions glomerulosclerosis or interstitial fibrosis, it is describing areas of scarring in the kidney. These findings can indicate chronic or previously established kidney injury, but they do not by themselves tell you how well your kidneys are functioning now or exactly what will happen in the future. … Read more
The short answer Acute kidney injury (AKI) can improve, sometimes substantially or completely. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is different: it means kidney abnormalities have persisted for at least 3 months or there is other evidence that the problem is chronic. However, the distinction is not always obvious from one creatinine or eGFR result. Someone with … Read more
The short answer CKD-EPI and MDRD are equations used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from blood test results, usually serum creatinine. They can produce different eGFR values from the same creatinine result because they use different mathematical models. The important point is that the difference does not necessarily mean your kidney function suddenly changed. … Read more
The short answer: A kidney ultrasound can provide important clues about kidney structure, chronicity, cysts, stones, and urinary blockage, but an ultrasound does not measure kidney function directly. Findings such as small kidneys, cortical thinning, and increased echogenicity can be seen with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but none of these findings should be interpreted by … Read more
The short answer A spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR) and a 24-hour urine collection are two ways to assess how much protein is being lost in the urine. For many adults, a spot UPCR is convenient and sufficiently informative for detecting and monitoring proteinuria, so a 24-hour collection is often unnecessary. KDIGO recommends measuring urine … Read more
The short answer Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially as kidney function declines. One important reason is that damaged kidneys produce less erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that tells the bone marrow to make red blood cells. But low EPO is not the only cause. Iron deficiency, inflammation, blood loss, vitamin … Read more
The short answer: High uric acid and kidney disease are closely connected, but the relationship is more complicated than “high uric acid damages the kidneys.” Reduced kidney function can cause uric acid to rise because the kidneys remove less of it. High uric acid may also contribute to problems such as gout and uric acid … Read more
The short answer: The CO2 value on a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) is mainly a measure of the amount of bicarbonate in your blood, not a measurement of the carbon dioxide you breathe out. Bicarbonate is an important base that helps keep your blood from becoming too acidic. A low CO2/bicarbonate level can occur with … Read more
The short answer: Fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) is a urine-based calculation that estimates how much of the sodium filtered by the kidneys is ultimately excreted in urine. Traditionally, a FENa below 1% has suggested a prerenal cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), while a FENa above 2% has suggested intrinsic kidney injury, particularly acute … Read more
The short answer: A sudden rise in blood potassium can be important because potassium affects the electrical activity of the heart. However, the number alone does not tell the whole story. The speed of the rise, kidney function, medications, symptoms, ECG findings, and whether the result is genuine all matter. A high potassium result can … Read more