High Creatinine Level And Dialysis
Dialysis is a common treatment to lower high creatinine levels, especially the creatinine level is higher than 5mg/dl. Here are some most commonly asked questions for high creatinine and dialysis for your information.
At which high creatinine level, dialysis is required?
Actually, whether dialysis is required or not, it depends on a personal condition. Even in same creatinine level, one patient may be suggested with dialysis and the other one may be not. Then what factors requires dialysis? There are mainly 3 factors are involved as follows.
- Kidney Function Level (GFR)
- General Health Conditions
- Severe complications
Usually, if GFR is less than 15, dialysis or kidney transplant will be suggested. And if your GFR is around 15, the poor health conditions and severe complications will require the patients to take dialysis earlier.
In general condition, when GFR is less than 15, the average creatinine level may around 5.0. Thereby, you may be suggested to take dialysis, with such or higher creatinine level.
Can I stop dialysis when creatinine level down to normal?
As we mentioned above, creatinine level is not the standard lab value to start dialysis. So it also should not be a standard to stop dialysis. In addition, creatinine is just a kind of waste products in the blood. Dialysis can remove the small sized waste products while it doesn’t deal with middle or large sized ones.
Thereby, decreased creatinine levels cannot indicate the normal function of kidneys. You may also need other Blood Purification treatments to remove the larger toxins in your blood.
Why creatinine level elevates again after dialysis?
Many patients complain that their creatinine level lowers down firstly after dialysis. However, after a period of time, creatinine level increases again. Why? I have to say, this is a common phenomenon. Actually, it shows one of the dialysis disadvantages.
In other words, dialysis just works as a kidney replacement tool to remove the toxins. However, it fails to repair the damaged kidneys. No matter how long you use dialysis only, your kidney function cannot improve, instead, it decreases gradually.
Once you finish you dialysis at the medical center or your home, the creatinine will build up in your blood again and as your kidneys have not been improved. The creatinine will elevate again.
This is why you are suggested to take the treatment to repair the damaged kidney tissues and improve kidney function, along with the treatment of Dialysis.
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