🧬 Your Kidney Function Results – Stage 5 CKD (Early)
End‑stage kidney disease (eGFR 8‑15 mL/min). Renal replacement therapy is essential, but not yet urgent in most cases.
📊 Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)
Medical description: Your kidneys are functioning at less than 15% of normal. Uraemic symptoms may be mild or absent at this stage. However, you should now actively prepare for dialysis or kidney transplantation. The decision to start dialysis is based on symptoms, not solely on a GFR number.
📋 Evaluate the need to start dialysis
Check any symptoms you are currently experiencing. This will help you and your nephrologist decide if dialysis should be initiated soon.
📌 When to start dialysis – clinical guidance
Dialysis is typically indicated when:
- eGFR < 10 mL/min AND one or more of the above symptoms are present.
- Refractory hyperkalemia (K > 6.5 mEq/L) or metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.2).
- Severe fluid overload not responding to diuretics.
- Uraemic pericarditis or encephalopathy (rare, urgent).
If you have no or few symptoms, you may safely plan an AV fistula and continue medical management for weeks to months.
Stage 5 CKD – prepare for renal replacement therapy
🔄 What to do now (stage 5 early)
Ensure you are seen by a nephrologist at least once every 1‑2 months.
If you choose haemodialysis, have a vascular surgeon assess you for an AV fistula – it needs months to mature.
Start workup for kidney transplant (living donor or deceased donor waiting list).
If you prefer home dialysis, ask about PD catheter placement (can be used sooner).
💡 Many patients remain stable in stage 5 early for months or years with careful medical management (dietary restrictions, phosphate binders, erythropoiesis stimulants). Do not rush into dialysis without symptoms – but do not delay preparation.