When to Start Dialysis for PKD Patients with Creatinine 4.8

2014-03-31 03:03

Question: I have PKD and just visited my doctor. My creatinine level is 4.8 but I’m doing very well. He is discussing peritoneal dialysis instead of hemodialysis. I was interested in how soon I’ll have to start.

Answer: Dialysis is a kidney replacement treatment when your kidneys fails to filter wastes and excess fluid from your body. And creatinine level is often used as the indicator of kidney function. When your creatinine level is higher than 5, or when the creatinine clearance falls to 10-12 cc/minute, dialysis is often suggested. Creatinine 4.8 is near creatinine 5, so your doctor discussed dialysis with you and let you prepare for it.

But creatinine level is not the only standard to measure whether you need dialysis or not. People usually do not take dialysis until the waste products in their body become so high that they start to become sick from them. Dialysis may be indicated even though the creatinine clearance has not fallen to the 10-12 cc/minute level. You said you are doing very well. Maybe it needs a long time for you to dialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis is usually preferred. Because it can be done at any time and any where so that it won’t affect your life quality largely. However, both peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis bring side effects, such as infection, hernia, weight gain, cramps, etc. And once you start dialysis, you may live on dialysis in the remaining years.

Now if aggressive treatment is taken to your disease, it is likely for you to get rid of dialysis. For PKD patients, to shrink kidney cysts and improve kidney function are what you should do now. If you would like to know such a therapy or personalized treatment plan, please send emails to pkdtreatment169@gmail.com or leave a message below.

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