Worrying test results

Hi all

I recently visited my GP because of bladder pain (briefly quite acute, but now very low level). She ran bloods and they came back with some worrying results re kidney function.

Creatine - 141umol/L

EGFR - 50ml/min (1.73m2)

GGT - 78 u/l

C-reactive prot - 5mg/l

I am 35 years old, 183cm and about 95kg.

I am otherwise healthy and on no medication. This is obviously a bit upsetting for me to hear, particularly with such a low EGFR. Can anyone recommend some reading for me to learn a bit more about where I stand?

Thanks.

[Darlenia]

Hi! It's always a unsettling to see lab results outside of the normal range. With kidney issues, sometimes acute factors (infections, bodily injuries, etc.) are involved and matters resolve over time and other times chronic factors (polycystic disease, diabetes, etc.) make the situation a life long matter. I hope you find answers soon to your status; the findings will help direct your actions. In the meantime, many people use the Kidney Smart classes to educate themselves. davita.com/education/kidney... to educate themselves. Throughout life, it's always a good idea to stay away from processed foods and stick with a wholesome natural diet as much as positive. Stay positive and stay in touch with your doctor!

[Hidden in reply to Darlenia]

Thank you. I have since had a urine test that came back normal, so hopefully the next set of bloods is better.

[Darlenia in reply to Hidden]

Yes, that will be tell you a lot more. One test is only a snapshot in time and can be influenced by dehydration, an infections, etc. A series of lab tests is needed for a conclusion and/or diagnosis. Keep on keeping on.

[Hidden in reply to Darlenia]

Normal ultrasound and urine. No symptoms. Second blood test should come back today.

[Hidden]

Ultrasound coming up too. Dr says kidney disease very unlikely with normal urine.

[purple-1974]

It sounds likely, that you have been suffering from a urine infection, which can cause, these symptoms. The positive thing is you said your latest urine sample was normal, it normally takes three sets of blood tests to determine whether you have kidney disease. The main thing you can do is, if you don’t normally drink a lot water, is to increase your intake, don’t go overboard and drink lots but increase slightly more. Eat a healthy diet, avoiding processed foods and fizzy drinks.

[Hidden in reply to purple-1974]

Thank you for replying.

The dr thinks I had a prostate infection, whether that explains my current elevated creatinine levels I don’t know.

Given the complete lack of any symptoms it may be nothing but having a scan today to check for any blockages in the kidneys that would explain my blood test.

[Hidden]

So I just had an ultrasound and I have perfectly normal kidneys, bladder and liver. My urine is completely normal and I have no symptoms. The only unusual thing is elevated creatinine. Hopefully the first test was erroneous and the repeat puts me in the clear. If not, more tests needed.

[WYOAnne in reply to Hidden]

Remember that your creatinine and eGFR can be affected by your hydration, stress, exercise and what you had to eat the night before your lab draw.Kidney disease is never diagnosed from a single blood and urine test. It is determined from a trend over time. This is why when you have one worrisome result that the doctor repeats the labs.

Congrats on having better results!

[Hidden in reply to WYOAnne]

Thank you.

I’m still worried but a bit less than I was. I’m sure there are more tests to come.

[RickHow in reply to Hidden]

I'm no doctor and it sounds like you have a very good doctor treating you (doing a lot of testing, etc., and not just ignoring the issue). And it seems you have ZERO to worry about. ZERO. I'm just surprised that the doctor has not done yet another blood test, even if only to ease your mind. It of course is advisable to wait a bit to get another test, but seems with all the testing he has done enough time has passed he could do another blood test now and see where you are at. But one time having some abnormal results is normal. I get tested every 3 weeks. I can not even count how many times I will get a catetory on my blood test that is out of normal range, sometimes significantly, and the doctor basically yawns, says wait until next time. And then next time it is normal and remains that way test after test. Your results are great and best of all you have a good doctor.

[Hidden in reply to RickHow]

Thanks for the reassurance. The initial blood test was on Thursday, another was done on Tuesday (results pending). This morning I had ultrasound, all clear. Urine clear throughout, in fact I get urine tested every year for the last 15 years.

Also, in September I had a blood test for an insurance policy which was apparently unremarkable.

[Hidden in reply to RickHow]

Out of interest, do you know of anyone with CKD with normal urine results?

[WYOAnne in reply to Hidden]

Nope! Because one of the signs of CKD is blood in the urine and proteinuria! If your urine is not showing any of that, stop worrying.

[Hidden in reply to WYOAnne]

That’s reassuring. Unfortunately my GP just gave me the test results without explanation or background. I then googled it and got myself quite worked up. My specialist has said he is “not desperately concerned” though so I’m starting to feel a bit better.

[RickHow in reply to Hidden]

Yes I do know such a person. ME! They label me as having Stage 3 CKD based on the Creatinine level in my blood. But my urine tests are 100! normal. This has been my experience since 2017. All parts of blood tests too are normal, except an elevated Creatinine level.

[Hidden in reply to RickHow]

Interesting. It seems very unusual for that to be the case. My creatinine was 1.6 at the first check, which gives an EGFR of about 65-70 (depending on which formula you use). Hopefully the repeat bloods are better, particularly since my check 5 months ago was normal.

[RickHow in reply to Hidden]

No, it is not unusual at all. It depends a lot on the stage of kidney disease. CKD is diagnosed (labelled) based up blood tests (Creatinine in the blood). NOT on urine tests. The testing of urine is done to see what "level" of CKD you have, how it is progressing, etc. It is common to have CKD without a bad urine test. Now if the urine test shows elevated protein in the urine (everyone with or without CKD has protein in their urine, but at low levels) then that is an indication of how far the CKD has progressed and the health of the kidney itself. You are experiencing the "problem" with the eGFR calculation. You have a blood test which says your Creatinine level is HIGH. BUT at the same time you are getting an eGFR level above 60 which is considered "normal". It makes little sense. This is why more and more doctors are not interested is eGFR, and question the formula which produces normal results yet blood tests show abnormal results. So these doctors concentrate on your Creatinine level as the best indicator. You will find tons of posts on here which talk about this discrepancy

[Hidden in reply to RickHow]

Thanks for taking the time to reply in detail. My specialist does say that it is very rare to have normal urine and CKD but how rare ‘very rare’ is, I don’t know.

[Gappy in reply to Hidden]

I also have normal urine but ckd stage 3a based on creatine and gfr and my nephrologist definitely does not consider it remotely rare . Very odd yours considers it rare but what o I know .

[CatOnACloud in reply to RickHow]

You’re in the one kidney club too as I recall RickHow, right? Automatically CKD Stage III—regardless of test results. So my creat is slightlyyyy higher than normal but not much, and no protein. My eGFR fluctuates between 45-62. What you say made me smile as the 62 is my highest value in years, but it’s not normal in truth. I think we need all the expert’s feet on the side of the new methodologies instead of trying to keep one foot in the old, and one in with the new. Methinks they’re afraid to commit 😅

[RickHow in reply to CatOnACloud]

Yep, the one kidney club. You are so right about the doctors (okay maybe not all but most) are unwilling to stand up and say, the egfr thing has been a good start but we have learned its flaws and have to make improvements. As the scientists say, science changes and reveals more daily. The case of just having one kidney needs more consideration as to what is "normal" and what is not. The influence of other diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, etc., needs to be considered as to what is normal and what is not. The ridiculousness of having a blood test which says your Creatine level is in the normal range but when they calculate your egfr based upon it, your age, race, etc., they label you as kidney disease. So much more.

[WYOAnne]

You can research some at the NKF website kidney.org.Look at KIDNEY BASICS & also TREATMENT & SUPPORT

There is also a "kidney school" that you sign up for and watch at davita.com

[Hidden]

Stand down. Second blood test came back normal.

Thank you all for your thoughtful replies and I wish you all the best in the future.