Creatinine test helps early diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease

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Creatinine test helps early diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease



The creatinine test is a simple blood test, low cost and is part of the procedures covered by the SUS, but could help in early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This, when in an advanced state, has only two treatments: dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, according to the Brazilian Society of Nephrology (SBN), when diagnosed early, CKD is treatable.

The president of SBN, Dr. Daniel Rinaldi, measure the levels of creatinine in the blood is a simple and effective way to know if the kidneys are functioning normally. "It's an examination in the same form of glucose tests and blood tests so many other very common," he says.

Dr. Rinaldi explains that creatinine is a metabolite that circulates through the blood and serves as a marker of kidney function. This drift of creatine (a substance produced by muscles, to become creatinine, should be eliminated by the kidneys). Of course, the creatinine concentration varies with factors such as gender, age and muscle mass, which was higher in men and athletes, and lower in women, children and elderly.

The creatinine concentrations are larger as in the kidneys lose their normal function. The increases become significant when there is a loss of more than 50% of kidney function. According to SBN, about 10 million Brazilians suffer from some form of renal failure, of which only about 30% know their diagnosis. "Kidney failure is a silent disease and the patient notices the symptoms only when it is already in advanced stages and should be referred for dialysis or renal transplantation," said Dr. Rinaldi.

Source: Press release, SPMJ Communication