Does Creatinine Level 3.4 Need Dialysis

Question: I am suffering from kidney disease and have the following test results.

Urea: 40 mg/dl

Creatinine: 3.4

Sodium and potassium are normal

Hemoglobin is 12.5 G/dl.

These results are from the Pakistani lab. In Pakistan, my doctor told that I did not need transplant or dialysis now immediately as my kidneys are still working well like 30%~40% and also I still do not have apparent symptoms of Renal Failure. He said that I still can survive like 5 to 10 years. However, when I showed the above tests results to the doctors in UK, they told me to go for dialysis after observing the parameters. Please tell me should I start dialysis or not?

Answer: Generally speaking, the creatinine is at 3.4 and not along with serious complications like hypokalemia, swelling and so on, the persons need not dialysis immediately. However, if the kidney function still keeps decline, when the creatinine level declines to 5, you had better start dialysis.

Exactly, when you start dialysis is a very personal decision. Some people feel absolutely horrible at the creatinine level you are at and ask to start dialysis treatment at right away. In some cases, when the creatinine level rises to 6, as the patients do not have abnormal symptoms, they still reject dialysis. Of course, we generally do not suggest the persons to delay dialysis even if they do not have discomforts when the creatinine level is very high.

As for your condition, your kidneys are still working well. If you receive proper treatment, the chance of avoiding dialysis is very high.

For renal function decline, massive metabolic wastes have built up in your blood and the releasing of inflammatory factors seriously affect your blood circulation. In the first step, it is essential to clear up the body's internal environment and improve the blood supply to kidneys.

As the renal fibrosis has damaged the renal intrinsic cells, to improve renal function, the impaired renal intrinsic cells should be restored.

If the kidney function can be reversed, you will be able to avoid dialysis completely.


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