How this Patient Diagnosed his Kidney Disease EARLY


One of the most common questions I receive from patients is whether it's possible to detect kidney disease before it becomes severe. Often, I also encounter comments suggesting that if Stage 1 kidney disease exists, then almost everyone must have kidney disease. This is a misconception, and today, I want to clarify what Stage 1 really means and how it can impact your health.

Introduction to Kidney Disease

Hello, everyone! This is Dr. Wajid from the Expert Kons Clinic in Lahore. Today, I'm recording from a different studio, so I apologize for any lighting or audio issues, but I’ll do my best to ensure the video quality isn’t compromised.

When we think about health, people generally fall into three categories:

  1. The Unconcerned: These individuals pay little attention to their health until they fall seriously ill. They continue their routine without regular check-ups or preventive care.

  2. The Anxious Yet Inactive: This group is more cautious and undergoes regular check-ups and lab tests, but they don’t take any action when abnormalities are detected.

  3. The Proactive: These individuals not only get regular check-ups but also take immediate action if any health issues are identified.

Today’s video focuses on a patient from the second group—a friend of mine, who is also a well-educated doctor. He shared his lab reports with me, and I was able to identify early signs of kidney disease, specifically in Stages 1 and 2. I advised him on the steps he needed to take, and I’m grateful that he allowed me to share his case to educate others.

The Case Study: Early Detection and Risk Factors

My friend initially shared his lab results with me for a general opinion, particularly concerned about his liver function tests. However, I noticed his creatinine levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) indicated early kidney disease—Stage 2, to be precise. His most recent lab results from December 28, 2023, showed a creatinine level of 1 and an eGFR of 73, which technically places him in Stage 2 of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Despite this, I wouldn't label him as a kidney disease patient just yet. He is at risk, but not fully afflicted by the disease. Interestingly, his primary concern wasn’t even his kidneys—it was his liver function tests. Let’s delve deeper into these results.

Liver Function and Lipid Profile

When we reviewed his liver function tests, his ALT (alanine aminotransferase) level was 60, and his AST (aspartate aminotransferase) level was 41. These results suggest the presence of fatty liver disease, which is a common issue, especially with an unhealthy lifestyle.

As a doctor, the next step was to check his lipid profile. His cholesterol levels weren’t drastically elevated, but they were slightly above normal. This combination of factors—fatty liver and elevated cholesterol—often correlates with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, which can lead to more serious conditions like diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

The Importance of Lifestyle in Managing Early Stages

More important than the lab numbers is the patient's lifestyle. My friend had shared his lab results with me out of concern for his liver, but when I pointed out his kidney numbers, he became even more anxious. After calming him down, I took a more detailed history.

He revealed that his blood pressure, which had never exceeded 130, had recently spiked to 140 systolic on a couple of occasions. His lifestyle wasn’t particularly unhealthy—he doesn’t smoke, and he doesn’t regularly eat out—but he also doesn’t engage in regular exercise. His diet is typical of many Pakistani households: regular meals with little emphasis on healthy eating, such as a higher intake of vegetables or the use of olive oil.

The Impact of Aging on Health

Given that my friend is now in his early 40s, this is a critical time when significant metabolic changes occur in the body. Our body’s ability to process food slows down, metabolism decreases, and hormonal changes start to set in. Blood vessels begin to undergo structural changes, and maintaining the same lifestyle as before can lead to significant health issues.

At this stage, if he doesn’t incorporate regular exercise, ensure adequate sleep, and start eating a healthier diet, his health will likely deteriorate further. Unhealthy foods—such as those high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats—need to be eliminated from his diet. If he adopts these lifestyle changes, I’m optimistic that his lab numbers will improve within six months to a year.

A Plan for Recovery

I always recommend gradual lifestyle modifications. I’ve given my friend a goal: within a year, he should slowly adopt these changes, maintain them, and regularly monitor his lab results every three months. I’m hopeful that by the end of the year, his numbers will return to normal, he’ll lose some weight, and he’ll feel healthier overall.

This isn’t just about treating numbers—it’s about reversing early stages of disease before they progress to conditions like diabetes, heart attacks, or full-blown kidney disease.

Conclusion: Taking Action Before It's Too Late

If you want to avoid chronic diseases, you must adopt an active, healthy lifestyle and continue to improve it. The purpose of today’s video was to educate you on what Stage 1 and Stage 2 kidney disease are. These are structural changes that occur before symptoms manifest, often when your creatinine is still below 1, and your eGFR is above 60.

By the time your eGFR falls below 60, significant damage has already occurred in your kidneys—likely around 70% of the function is already lost, and the remaining kidney function is under threat. These changes are not just irreversible but tend to worsen over time unless actively managed.

So, the takeaway from today’s discussion is simple: act early, especially when you’re still in the early stages. Make those small but essential changes to your lifestyle. If you have any questions, experiences, or thoughts, please share them in the comments. Remember, not everyone has the willpower to make drastic changes instantly, but every small step counts.

I’ll be waiting for your feedback, and I look forward to discussing more scientific topics in future videos. While they might not attract as many views, these topics are crucial for increasing public understanding of health issues. We’ll return to more common topics like chronic kidney disease soon.

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