Perfect Kidney function

[Athena]

A close relative has revealed that she has low-normal levels of serum creatinine and BUN/urea levels. As such, her eGFR is 129!!!! She is 74 years old and has had a lifetime of being on strong painkillers and steroids for asthma. How is this even possible? The effects of severe envy just left me stunned and speechless. I found this just amazing.

[Rerun]

GFR is just a calculation.  You put in your age, gender etc....   So I don't think she is correct.

Try it here:  http://www.davita.com/gfr-calculator/

[MuddyGurl]

 That number is surprising too…age alone traditionally shows a range in the "stage 3" realm.

we drop 1 pt GFR after age 40, so it works out you end up naturally dead with a VL GFR at the same time. <dark humor>

A freind's hubby has pancreatic cancer, is slowly gaining strength, but sick..his Creatinine is .93,  amazingly good at age 73..
his chart show eGFR at,60, since they don't show it as LOW then it must e closer to 'normal. range.

[Athena]

I just saw your response Muddygurl now. Yes, it is very surprising. I'm beginning to suspect that there may be other conditions/diseases that may reduce serum creatinine levels to be LOW. For instance, I am prone to certain low liver enzymes as an example. It's either some anomaly or my relative has bionic kidneys! If the latter, she might be an ideal live donor in spite of her age!

[talker]

GFR is just a calculation.  You put in your age, gender etc....   So I don't think she is correct.

Try it here:  http://www.davita.com/gfr-calculator/

Needed to know my GFR (Glumerular Filtration Rate) other than inquiring in the dialysis center.

For any that may be interested:

http://www.clinicalculator.com/english/nephrology/cockroft/cca.htm

Ah yes, the preciseness of impreciseness.
Where is the truth of it all!     
Using the shown calculators, and running the Cochroft equation by hand,  becomes a tad confusing.     

Did do all three processes and came up with three different answers?
Ha. What to believe!
Yes, the shown calculators must use certain and specific un-shown factors to arrive a given GFR. 

I got two different stage 4's, and one stage 5.       
And journey continues.

[Athena]

Wow, that is interesting Talker. I now only take the advice of my Nephs which is to simply monitor the Serum Creatinine level and ignore eGFR calculations. It seems only GPs and other non-Nephrology type of doctors rely on the GFR.

[lainiepop]

I know GFR is just an estimate and my docs never mention it either pre or post tx. I only see it if they happen to send me a letter of latest results. My creatinine a couple months ago was 72, and on a letter from november last year when the creatinine was also 72 it says gfr 83 or something similar.

Age does not necessarily mean u will have bad function. I

[lainiepop]

I know GFR is just an estimate and my docs never mention it either pre or post tx. I only see it if they happen to send me a letter of latest results. My creatinine a couple months ago was 72, and on a letter from november last year when the creatinine was also 72 it says gfr 83 or something similar.

Age does not necessarily mean u will have bad function. I am now 3 yrs post tx, 33 yrs old and my dad (my donor ) turns 70 in september, he was almost 67 when he donated but they kept saying he had a super kidney with the function of a 40 yr old. They said his gfr pre tx was something like 110 which for his age was super, so it's not unheard of some older donors can have better kidneys than young'uns lol.

Marie

[Alex C.]

FWIW, my 90 year old father has a GFR of 80. I inherited my bad kidneys from my mother's side.