When do you know you need dialysis or a kidney transplant?

When do you know you need dialysis or a kidney transplant?

Your healthcare provider will calculate a special score called the estimated glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR. This score helps the provider track the severity of kidney disease over time. It starts at 100 (highest kidney function) and goes down to 0 (no kidney function). A score below 15 marks kidney failure and the need for dialysis or kidney transplant.

Healthcare providers determine the filtration rate based on your:

• Age.
• Creatinine blood levels.
• Body size.
• Gender.