Blood Test for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
2013-10-09 14:40
Blood test is a must for people who are suspected to have developed kidney disease. Kidneys help to filter and purify blood, so when kidneys are affected, there will be abnormal blood test results. Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, which can be shorted as FSGS, is a common kidney disorder. With this kidney problems, we usually have the following several abnormal blood test results.
1. High creatinine level in blood
Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine, which is an important part of muscle. In normal condition, excess creatinine is discharged through kidney, so creatinine level in blood is always kept in a stable range 0.5-1.3mg/dL. In FSGS, glomeruli are injured, leading to the decrease of kidney filtration function. As a result, creatinine level in blood increases.
2. High urea nitrogen
Similar with creatinine, urea nitrogen is also excreted through kidney. Therefore, when one is affected by Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, he may find his urea nitrogen level in blood is increased as well. Urea nitrogen is the end product of protein, so FSGS patients need to limit protein intake when their BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) is elevated.
3. Low red blood cells and low hemoglobin
Healthy kidneys secrete a kind of hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) which is necessary for the formation of red blood cells. For Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis patients, when their kidneys are severely damaged, production of EPO reduces. In such a condition, red blood cell account in blood decreases and also, hemoglobin in blood decreases as well.
Blood test plays an important role for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis patients to know well about their kidney condition. The above are the common abnormal blood test reports when one is affected with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and hope it is helpful for you. Besides, blood test helps to reflect kidney condition by measuring serum creatinine level and blood urea nitrogen level, but Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis can not be diagnosed only through this test. In medicine, the diagnosis of this kind of kidney problem is based on renal biopsy.
- Tag: FSGS Diagnosis
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