Diagnosing chronic kidney disease.
OBJECTIVE
To review the current state-of-the art in diagnosing chronic kidney disease (CKD) using classification systems based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and kidney damage.


RESULTS
CKD, as defined by current classification systems, has many pitfalls, but the presence and stage of CKD has important value in determining prognosis, particularly when the effects of albuminuria are added to eGFR SUMMARY: The diagnosis of CKD using current classification schema based on eGFR alone needs to be approached with some caution, particularly in the elderly without concomitant signs of kidney damage. The presence and magnitude of albuminuria has important diagnostic and prognostic significance.
Glassock
Richard J
RJ
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA. glassock@cox.net
Winearls
Christopher
C
D000818:Animals; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis