What is gfr in medical terms

GFR is also used to find the stage of chronic kidney disease. Glomerular filtration rate is usually calculated using a mathematical formula that compares a person's size, age, sex, and race to serum creatinine levels. This number is an estimate. It may not be a good measure of kidney health in some people, such as the very young or very old, amputees, or obese people.

Rhoads MD - Internal Medicine. People with CKD often take medicines to lower blood pressure, control blood sugar, and lower blood cholesterol. Will I ever need dialysis?

With proper management, you may never need dialysis or, at least, not for a very long time. But if your kidneys fail, we will need to choose a treatment that can replace the job of your kidneys to maintain health. There are two types of dialysis - one is done at home daily and the other is done in a dialysis center three times a week. Is kidney transplant an option? You may be able to receive a kidney transplant. The donated kidney can come from an anonymous donor who has recently died or from a living person.

A kidney transplant is a treatment - not a cure. View Advanced Health Information Search. How well are your kidneys working? A GFR of 60 or higher is in the normal range.

A GFR below 60 may mean kidney disease. A GFR of 15 or lower may mean kidney failure. What is GFR? A urine albumin result below 30 is normal. It does this by comparing the results of a blood test that measures creatinine, a waste product filtered by the kidneys, with other information about you.

This information includes some or all of the following:. A GFR test is used to help diagnose kidney disease at an early stage, when it is most treatable. GFR may also be used to monitor people with chronic kidney disease CKD or other conditions that cause kidney damage.

These include diabetes and high blood pressure. But you may need a GFR test if you are at higher risk of getting kidney disease. Risk factors include:. Later stage kidney disease does cause symptoms. So you may need a GFR test if you have any of the following symptoms:. A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial.

You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. Currently the test considers your age, sex and race, among other things. AKF is reviewing the NKF-ASN recommendations and will update its outreach and educational programs ongoing as additional information and evidence evolves. Your eGFR is an estimated number based on a blood test and your age, sex, body type and race.

However, the eGFR may not be accurate if you are younger than 18, pregnant, very overweight or very muscular. In addition, other tests such as an ultrasound or a kidney biopsy may be ordered to find a cause of your kidney disease. You will have a blood test to see how much creatinine is in your blood. Creatinine is a waste product in your blood that comes from your muscles.