Kidney disease screening
Blood test for creatinine
Urine test for protein and
Measurement of blood pressure
The level of creatinine in the blood is then used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate, or GFR. The GRF and checking for persistent protein in the urine (proteinuria) are believed to be the best way to diagnose early kidney damage. The level of GFR and persistent proteinuria can be estimated accurately from blood and urine tests collected during a routine office visit.
The reason for measuring the blood pressure is two-fold. Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) is both a cause and a consequence of chronic kidney disease.
Chronic renal disease is a problem of appreciable proportions. In the US alone, the NKF estimated in 2002 that 20 million people had early chronic kidney disease and did not know it, and another 20 million faced an above average risk of developing it. Screening for chronic kidney disease has been generally neglected and is of inestimable value.
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