LymeNet Flash: Elevated eGFR during Lyme treatment: mean anything?

This is topic Elevated eGFR during Lyme treatment: mean anything? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by Lyme1234 (Member # 32854) on :

Hi,
My eGFR went way above "normal" a few months into my Lyme treatment. This has never happened to me before.

Is this significant for any reason? My non-LLMD doctor thinks that it doesn't mean anything, because only low eGFR values indicate disease. I believe him, but I just wanted to hear if there are any other opinions.

BTW I'm not African-American, which is significant because the lab results say that AA's have different reference ranges.

Thanks! [Smile]

Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :

Well, normal is "60 or above" for a non-African-American. So, there is no upper end of a normal range; normal can be 100, for example. High is great. It means the kidneys are doing a great job.

Many folks would die for a high number. If you think the number is a mistake, you can ask to have the test redone.

But, I have never seen a test that shows anything other than ">60" if the person is "normal" so I don't know what my real number is, just that it is greater than 60. I didn't think that they computed scores once they saw that you were greater than 60.

Did you know that the "e" means "estimated"? You can do a more elaborate test to get your ACTUAL GFR--like a 24 hour urine collection test.

The estimated GFR and other estimates of various kidney functions are based on age, sex, average muscle mass for that age and sex, etc. So, you could be different in some respect from what they consider average. For example, my husband has more muscle mass than they expect for his age, so his estimated creatinine level can make it look like he has 3rd stage kidney failure.

The 24 hour urine collection test computed his actual creatinine level which was perfectly normal. So, that showed us how these estimated numbers can be wrong.

Now, I am curious as to how high your number is! Also, what lab gave you an actual number above 60?

Posted by Lyme1234 (Member # 32854) on :

Thanks a ton for the response! It was so informative!

My eGFR was 149. That sounds high, huh? That's why I wanted to learn about it. The lab said that 120 was the upper limit, so technically I was "abnormal".

This was done just at a local hospital lab. I don't think they sent it anywhere to be done.

I have a lot of muscle mass, too, and I wonder if that somehow affected the "estimated" GFR like you were saying. Plus I've been working out a lot recently, so I wonder if that somehow skewed the results.

Anyway, I'm just super happy that you confirmed that I don't have a problem. Thanks.

Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :

An old thread, but the most appropriate I could find.

Since Mepron and zith, my GFR is off the scale high.

They measure up to 125, and mine was over 125.

I also have low creatnine. The bottom limit is 10. Mine is 10.

I don't drink (obviously), and just feel the usual lyme ****ty.

When I looked up high GFR alcoholism, methadone use, diabetes and ketoacidosis were listed as causes.

I don't do or have any of the above.

Anyone else have high GFR off the scale, and low creatnine?
[confused]

Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :

Greta,

Me too!! Don't know what it means either. I also have tiny muscles that are slowly getting tinier... No alcohol (I'm on flagyl) or methadone, and I'm not Diabetic. Though I may have some ketoacidosis from catabolism...ugh.

Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :

Comments on my lab report say the eGFR is inaccurate for those on a vegetarian diet (that's me), those with severe malnutrition (also me), skeletal muscle disease, para/quadri-plegic, obesity, pregnancy, or rapidly changing kidney disease.