Getting tested to be a donor - Some Questions

This is the forum for the Kidney Patient Guide. We welcome feedback about the site and any information that may be of use or interest to other visitors.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This forum is not for queries that would otherwise be addressed to a doctor. If you have a question about your condition or treatment please consult your renal unit or doctor. We do not have any editorial or medical resources to answer individual queries.

Moderator: administrator

Post Reply
harryharryharry
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2016 7:46 am

Getting tested to be a donor - Some Questions

Post by harryharryharry »

Hello all,

I trust everyone is doing well. I recently joined this forum as my brother will need a kidney transplant in the next few years. He is in his mid 30's and received a kidney from our mom a few years back after being on dialysis for a few years. However, he contracted a virus and it has affected his kidney function greatly.

I recently started getting initial tests done to check my suitability. I am 37 years old.
They included a full blood count, blood renal panel and urine analysis. All came back normal according to my doctor.

When he emailed me the results, one thing stuck out. The eGFR was 87 and the report said that the eGFR was calculated using the CKD EPI Calculation.
I understand that that can be fully normal for many people. However, the more I researched online, I found out about the eGFR being a calculation from serum creatinine.
My creatinine was 0.94. When inputting it into the calculation, it says my eGFR is 103. I was 36 when I did the test and am a white male. From my understanding, eGFR is worked on blood creatinine, age, race, height and weight.

This has got me concerned, as I'm sure you can appreciate, I don't want anything to stop me donating a kidney to my brother.

Can anyone shed some light on why the lab got 87 using the exact same calculation (CKD EPI). Is there something I am missing here?

Warm regards,
Harry
Thumps
Posts: 1302
Joined: Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:50 pm
Location: London, England

Re: Getting tested to be a donor - Some Questions

Post by Thumps »

Hi Harry,

Great that you're considering helping your brother like this. With regard to the eGFR result, I was under the impression that the measure also includes other factors including urea levels as well as the ones you list. Try not to read too much into it, particularly as you say your brother may not need another transplant for some time yet, as eGFR also fluctuates over time so a test taken now may provide a quite different set of results to one taken in a year or two from now.

Different countries (you don't say what country you're in but from the measures you're using you may not be in the UK I'm guessing?) also have different criteria for suitability, and will need to conduct additional tests on your heart, lungs and circulation as well as kidney function. In general, keeping as fit and healthy as possible between now and any possible donation is the best thing you can do to support your brother, and keeping in touch with him and his medical team about the timing and needs of any donation. My own living donation experience with my friend was very positive but took a year from starting the process to having the surgery.

Wishing you all the luck,
T
PKD/PLD diagnosed 1994, CKD stage 5 Oct 2007, Living Donor Kidney Transplant Dec 2008, still going strong!
Dixie1
Posts: 283
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:19 pm

Re: Getting tested to be a donor - Some Questions

Post by Dixie1 »

Hi Harry

Echo what Thumps says above. Keep in mind that the 'e' in eGFR stands for 'estimated' and it is just that, an estimate. Different labs use slightly different calculations. There is always a difference between the eGFR reading I get from bloods ordered by my GP for example and bloods ordered by my nephrologist, even though they use the same formula. Very odd I know. Most importantly I would have thought, in your case, is that anything over eGFR 60 is considered within 'normal' range I believe. Also, as I understand it, it is far harder to get an accurate eGFR calculations with levels over 60, as opposed to levels below 60. Just being a little dehydrated can also make a lot of difference from one day to the next. It sounds like you are in great shape, so try not to worry. Great that you are doing this for your brother. Very best of luck.
bosshogg
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2015 8:44 pm

Re: Getting tested to be a donor - Some Questions

Post by bosshogg »

Everyone is different and egfr is an estimate.


Don't think there is anything to worry about with either number.
Live Tx 13 odd years ago. Living the dream./
Post Reply