Taken together, high levels of serum potassium, serum creatinine and urine protein, also called microalbumin, are consistent with advanced kidney disease. All these tests are routinely performed on patients with chronic kidney disease. The results show how far the kidney disease has progressed and whether additional dietary changes are necessary to minimize the symptoms of renal failure.
Creatinine
Creatinine is a waste product in the blood that is made when muscles break down creatine. Creatinine levels are very low in healthy people because the kidneys routinely remove creatinine when they filter the blood. Nephrologists watch creatinine levels closely because by the time creatinine starts to rise, kidney function has dropped between 25 to 50 percent.
High Potassium Levels
The kidneys normally regulate the amount of potassium in the blood and keep it in a narrow range between 3.5 and 5.0 mEq/l. This narrow range is important because the concentration of potassium on either side of the membrane of the nerve cell makes it possible for the nerve to send signals to adjacent nerves. Elevated levels of potassium are one of the most dangerous symptoms of advanced kidney disease because they affect the heart. Arrhythmias, tachycardia and even death can result when potassium levels are too high. Doctors recommend low-potassium diets to prevent such problems.
Microalbuminuria
Albumin is a common type of protein found in the urine of kidney patients. Some nephrologists measure albumin, others measure urine protein and some even measure both. Elevated levels of albumin, also called microalbuminuria, is one of the first symptoms of kidney disease. Nephrologists control microalbuminuria by recommending a low-protein diet and occasionally prescribing drugs. Controlling microalbuminuria helps slow down the progression of kidney disease.
Glomerular Filtration Rate
Glomerular filtration rate, or GFR, is calculated from the patient's urine protein level, creatinine level and body area. This number expresses how fast the kidneys filter blood. GFR is also roughly the same as kidney function. Someone with a GFR of 30 has approximately 30 percent kidney function. When GFR falls between 5 and 15 percent, dialysis or transplant is necessary because the kidneys can no longer sustain life.
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