Should I Start Dialysis with Serum Creatinine 4.6

Dialysis is needed when there are too much toxins in the blood. Creatinine is a dominant index used to reflect how well the kidneys function and how much toxins in the blood. Normal creatinine level ranges from 0.5 to 1.3 and serum creatinine 4.6 means creatinine in the blood is about as 4 times much as the normal range. High creatinine level means there are excessive wastes in the blood; however, is serum creatinine 4.6 high enough to require dialysis?

Creatinine is just one of the wastes that produced by our body and creatinine level is clinically used to tell how much wastes in our blood. Generally speaking, kidney disease patients are suggested to start dialysis when serum creatinine increases to 5. However, many patients do not start dialysis at all until their life is really threatened by toxins in the blood. As long-term dialysis cause fatal complications like heart failure and the longer time the patients do dialysis, the more likely they suffer complications. Therefore, they do not start dialysis until the last time.

Dialysis is a commonly used medical procedure and shows quick treatment effects in cleaning blood. Therefore, it plays an important role for kidney failure patients. Many kidney failure patients do not start dialysis as they know long time dialysis causes serious complications. Dialysis is not a perfect medical treatment for kidney failure patients, but as a matter of fact, dialysis is helpful for protecting residual kidney function. Kidneys are responsible for discharging wastes in the blood and when there are excessive wastes in the blood, residual kidney tissues have to work harder to excrete wastes produced by our body. When this condition lasts for a long time, residual kidney tissues are damaged as well. However, with dialysis, wastes can be discharged timely, which is helpful for reducing the burden of these residual kidney tissues. Therefore, it is helpful for patients to start dialysis when there are excessive wastes in the blood.

Although dialysis is usually needed when serum creatinine level increases to 5, it does not mean dialysis is needed only when serum creatinine increases to 5. According to clinical studies, it is beneficial for patients with Diabetic Nephropathy to start dialysis earlier due to high blood sugar. Therefore, it is necessary for Diabetic Nephropathy patients to start dialysis when serum creatinine increases to 4.6.