Trying to understand what’s ‘normal’ when testing for liver disease

[Jamble]

What are the ideal blood test renal readings for a male aged 67 who is not overweight and in reasonable health but with high blood pressure ( under treatment) of 140/85?

[orangecity41]

I suspect you meant Kidney Disease in your title and not Liver Disease. Here is a link to understanding eGFR, from National Kidney Foundation. kidney.org/atoz/content/gfr .

[Bassetmommer]

HI Jamble,There are levels or stages of CKD. Normal for one may be stage 1 but as you get older, kidney function declines naturally. So the normal may be lower. "They say" a GFR above 60 is good, but then there are other factors that come into play. I know this is not a strong answer, but there are too many variables to say normal for all. And one blood test does not prove CKD. It take several tests over time to diagnose.

[Darlenia]

I'm assuming you're referencing kidney disease, not liver disease. Yes, look at your GFR as Bassetmommer suggested. My lab reports usually present GFR as a number (which I tend to view as a percentage). It also presents the normal range for my age which does indeed decline as one ages. I was turned down as a living kidney donor in my 60s for this reason. The decline is only a problem if it's happening quickly and/or if supporting data, like protein among some others, also signals a problem. You're apparently keeping yourself fit and you're controlling your blood pressure which are good things to do.

[RickHow]

I guess I differ slightly with most replies so far. While eGFR is of course a good indicator it is NOT the beginning and end all factor. It is FAR too variable. A typical statement is always something such as "if your egfr is over 60 it is normal". It only it were that simple. I for one see five different doctors on a very regular basis (cancer, kidney, GP, heart, urologist). Not a single one, not even the kidney doctor relies on the egfr as the primary basis for understanding my "CKD". For example, I am 71 years old. I had a kidney removed in 2017. It is not reasonable to expect at my age for my single kidney to do the workload of 2 kidneys. So to have an elevated (but not exceedingly high) Creatinine level, and therefore a lower (bad) eGFR is NORMAL for me. All of these doctors, at various times, run blood and urine tests. They say the key is to monitor NOT the egfr, but the other factors measured in a renal panel, and in a urine test. And most importantly to make sure these measurements vary up and down only slightly between each test.You seem to wonder what is the "normal". On each blood and urine test the resulting report will report your measurement. And it will indicate if your result is "low or high" compared to the "normal" range.

Here are the factors that are measured in what is called a Renal Panel (kidney function test):

A Renal Panel includes the following tests:

Glucose: Abnormal blood sugar levels can indicate a number of conditions including Diabetes. Over time, high glucose levels can damage the kidneys.

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): A waste product filtered through the kidneys. Used to evaluate kidney function.

Creatinine: A waste product produced by the muscles which is filtered through the kidneys. Used to Evaluate Kidney Function.

BUN/Creatinine Ratio: This measurement can indicate kidney disease or conditions such as dehydration or intestinal bleeding.

Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR): The amount of blood filtered by the kidneys. Used to screen for and detect early kidney damage.

Calcium: Normal levels are important for healthy bones, heart, nerves, kidneys, and teeth.

Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Carbon Dioxide, Total: An improper electrolyte balance can indicate a number of conditions including dehydration, Addison's disease, kidney disease, and Diabetes.

Albumin: A protein important for healthy liver and kidney function.

Phosphorus: Low levels of phosphorus can be indicative of a number of illnesses while high levels may be a symptom of kidney failure.