Elevated Blood Creatinine

My Father in Law (57 yrs old) was just diagnosed with end stage liver disease and acute kidney failure. His blood creatinine has been over 5 for the last 4 days and I was just wondering if anyone has had an experience like this who can offer any advice. We are waiting for a stent to drain the fluid off, they have drained 6 Liters off so far. He has only been in the hospital since wednesday 6/30/2010. Any advice is greatly appreciated, we do not have any experience with this so we do not know what to expect next. The doctors are just leaving us waiting....Holiday weekend and all.... Happy 4th of July.....

Thank you so much for the reply! The doctors said his kidney function was less than 10% and it has remained about the same since Thur (6/1/2010). They expected it to decline quickly, but it has remained the same. His ammonia has just elevated to 86 so they are starting Lactulose for the first time. They believe his kidney failure was being caused by 1. the failed liver 2. the pressure on his kidneys from the fluid build up. They have drained 6 liters off now and are going to see if he meets criteria to have a shunt put in to keep the fluid drained off. They weren't giving us much hope Friday, but he is strong enough to pull himself up and he is still coherent and aware so it is hard to believe he doesn't have much time left. Also, his Creatinine has elevated a little more today. He is still using the bathroom on his own several times a day, if that means anything. We are pretty clueless about all this, my husband and I are 28 so this stuff is new to us.

Karioare,

I  have end stage liver disease as well as kidney stones.  Have the doctors calculated a Model for End stage Liver Disease for your father-in-law?  They put your blood results for bilirubin, creatitine, and INR (your ability to clot blood) into it an equation that calculates how desperately you need a transplant.  40 means you are likely to die soon without transplant and the score ranges down to 6.  Alot of transplant centers require your MELD score to be above 20 for consideration for an immediate transplant.

Increased ammonia levels in the blood is another complication of end stage liver disease.  I could not tolerate the diarrhea that came with lactulose so my hepatologist has put me on Xifaxan.

Fluid can build up in the abdomen called ascites or in the legs and ankles.  I take several diuretics for my cankles.

Ironically, even though I suffer with calcium oxalate stones my creatnine level is normal and keeping my MELD score  around 14.  I have giant cell hepatitis and cirrhossis, but the cause is unknown.  Of course, I don't drink any alcohol.  The hepatitis forum on Healing Well is a great source of information and support.

Susie