2024-03-31 02:46:16
What is a kidney function test?
Kidney function tests It is a test to evaluate kidney function and health. There are many types of kidney function tests. This is usually done through blood and urine tests.
Why do you need to check your kidney function?
The kidneys are an organ that is important for various functions of the body, such as making red blood cells. Produce hormones that maintain blood pressure Including the synthesis of vitamin D Symptoms that may indicate kidney problems include blood in the urine, dysuria, frequent urination, and inability to urinate. In addition, certain diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes can affect kidney function. Kidney function tests are therefore useful because they help in tracking those diseases.
Check kidney function How to check?
Kidney function tests can be divided into two methods: blood tests and urine tests.
- Testing nitrogen levels from blood urea (Blood Urea Nitrogen or BUN)
- Testing serum creatinine level (Serum Creatinine)
- Testing the estimated glomerular filtration rate (Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate or eGFR)
- Microalbumin level test (Microalbumin)
- Urine test (Urinalysis)
This article will focus on measuring BUN, measuring serum creatinine levels. and measurement of eGFR mainly
Testing nitrogen levels from blood urea (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Testing the nitrogen level from urea in the blood Or the BUN test is a blood test to measure the level of nitrogen from urea in the blood. Urea is a waste product from the body. Generally, the body can remove urea from the bloodstream well if the kidneys are working properly. That means If there is a higher level of urea in the bloodstream It may indicate that there is a kidney problem.
Standard value of BUN value
The normal range for BUN ranges from 6 to 24 mg/dL. However, normal values may vary depending on the reference value used.
High BUN levels may indicate kidney dysfunction. But it may also be caused by the following.
- The food you eat is high in protein.
- Certain medicines taken, such as certain antibiotics
- congestive heart failure
- Dehydration
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- Burns, severe scalds
- Shock
- blocked urinary tract
In addition to measuring nitrogen from urea, Measuring creatinine in the blood is another method that is often used to get more accurate kidney function results. The level of creatinine in the blood is similar to the BUN level. If the creatinine level is high, It usually means that there is a problem with kidney function.
Measurement of serum creatinine (Serum Creatinine)
Serum creatinine measurement is another blood test used to check how well the kidneys are working. This test measures the amount of creatinine in the blood. especially in serum Creatinine is a waste product from muscles. Serum is a liquid component of blood. When the kidneys work normally Creatinine is filtered from the blood like urea. When the serum creatinine level is high It may indicate that the kidneys are not performing their duties efficiently.
Cases in which it may be necessary to measure serum creatinine include:
- There are warning signs of kidney disease.
- Patients are at risk of having kidney problems.
- Patients diagnosed with kidney problems need to have their kidney function tested.
- It is necessary to check the function of the transplanted kidney.
Standard values for serum creatinine levels
This is because the kidney’s creatinine filtration rate is usually constant. Serum creatinine levels should also be stable. If the level of creatinine in the serum is abnormally high It may be a sign that the kidneys are not performing their duties efficiently.
Standard values for serum creatinine levels are:
- 0.74 to 1.35 mg/dL for men
- 0.59 to 1.04 mg/dL for women
Serum creatinine also helps in estimating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Although GFR can be measured directly, it is difficult, so GFR is often estimated based on levels of Serum creatinine instead
MeasurementEstimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
Glomerular filtration rate It is a value that indicates kidney function. GFR measurement measures how much blood the kidneys can filter within 1 minute. As mentioned above, GFR measurement can be measured directly but is difficult. Therefore, doctors prefer to estimate GFR using A blood test that measures the level of creatinine in the blood instead. This value is called Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
Symptoms of kidney disease such as frequent urination and muscle spasms. This may not occur until kidney function drops below 60%. Measuring eGFR is therefore useful because it helps to screen for kidney disease early, allowing for timely treatment.
Doctors may order eGFR measurement to check kidney health in patients with the following diseases or conditions:
Results of eGFR values
The higher the eGFR value, the better the kidney function. The normal criteria for eGFR values are classified into the following ranges:
- eGFR value of 90 and above: An eGFR value in this range indicates that the kidneys are functioning normally or may have suffered mild damage.
- eGFR value between 60 and 89: An eGFR value in this range indicates a slight decrease in kidney function.
- eGFR between 30 and 59: Values in this range indicate a moderate to severe decrease in kidney function. Symptoms may occur with eGFR values in this range.
- eGFR value between 15 and 29: Values within this range indicate that kidney function has decreased to very little.
- eGFR value lower than 15: An eGFR value in this range is a sign of kidney failure. and indicates that kidney function has dropped below 15%. Having an eGFR value in this range is considered the most serious and can be life-threatening. The patient may need to undergo a kidney transplant or dialysis.
Frequently asked questions about kidney function tests
- How long until I know the kidney function test results?
Kidney function test results may be available on the same day as the test. However, in some places they may be sent to a lab and take 2–3 days for results to arrive. - If the results are not within the normal range What will happen?
If the kidney function test results are not normal Your doctor may order more functional tests in the future. This is because regular kidney function tests are useful in monitoring the patient’s health.
Advice from doctors at Medpark Hospital
Kidney function tests help determine how efficiently your kidneys are working. The most common methods used are blood and urine tests. This is because the kidneys have many important functions. Kidney function tests are therefore useful in monitoring symptoms of kidney disease. Helps treat patients in time
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