glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and Hep C

Has anyone else been following their GFR lab results. I had not really been paying attention to them until recently. When I read closely it says:

GFR, non-African-American
>=60 (Calculated GFRs less than 60mL/min/1.73m2 may indicate the presence of Chronic Kidney Disease when present 3 or more months.

My results have been >=60 since at least 2011. My last test and the test two labs back have been at 52. When I enter my Creatinine number from the last test (1.07) into the GFR calculator it says 57. That means my kidneys are running at around 52-57% filtration rate, depending on if I use the calculator or my chart numbers. But, that is considered stage 3 chronic kidney disease.

Now, first I'm wondering why this was never mentioned. Second, is it a result of the hep C. Third, if my kidneys are only filtering at about 50% could that be why my symptoms are so severe? Don't the kidneys have to help filter out all that dead virus I have floating around in there?

Rubi, As David says, kidneys are often damaged by liver disease. Before Transplant, Mike was hospitalized several times with acute kidney failure. This is temporary and he got this function back. Chronic kidney failure is the bad one, then you need dialysis.

Mike was transplanted in 2011, but he still had Hep C until the new drugs were available. So he didn't take the meds until spring of last year, giving Hep C 3 years to damage the new liver. Like you, he is considered to have Stage 3 Renal Disease. His GFR has never normalized after ESLD and the Transplant. His was 34 last week. That seems low, but it is what it is. He glad to be alive and virus free and feeling pretty well.

I am one to talk, because I get upset when his numbers are slightly mixed up, but there isn't much to do about the situation but keep hydrated, eat well, low sodium, no alcohol, and keep as much kidney function as possible for as long as possible.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Mama Lama