Kidney Awareness to the Power of Three

Phoenix, AZ – As the Arizona Kidney Foundation’s “Know Your GFR” campaign builds momentum and more people are talking about the powerful TV spots designed to make Arizonans take an active role in their kidney health, one paradox becomes extremely evident: Your kidneys clean your blood, strengthen your bones and make you feel great. They can also cause you severe harm if not properly cared for….

This sobering fact is especially true for people in high risk groups, which includes individuals with diabetes or high blood pressure, and folks prone to obesity or cardiac disorders, according to the Arizona Kidney Foundation.

“People with End-Stage (Also known as Stage 5, where the kidneys fail and dialysis is required) kidney disease number well over 300,000 in the United States,” states Raymond L. Heilman, MD, Divisions of Nephrology and Transplant Medicine with Mayo Clinic Arizona. “And over half of those people are afflicted with diabetes or high blood pressure. Symptoms of kidney disease can be virtually silent until they reach advanced stages, so it’s important, especially if you’re in one of these high risk groups, to see your doctor, at least on an annual basis.”  

“I can’t stress enough the importance of getting your lab work done and telling your doctor, ‘I want to know my GFR’,” emphasizes Savas Petrides, MD, FACP, and a partner at the Arizona Kidney Disease and Hypertension Center (AKDHC). “If you’re in one of these high risk groups, you are more prone to renal failure. The sad thing is that some diabetics will eat a doughnut and take some extra insulin, not realizing that they are damaging their organs. Bottom line, if your GFR score turns out to be lower than 60, your next question should be, ‘Which Nephrologist do you want me to see?’”

Glomerular Filtration Rate or GFR is considered to be a key indicator of kidney condition. It can be measured via a simple blood test. The earlier the detection, the better the odds of slowing or managing kidney disease. One in nine American adults (26 million) has Chronic Kidney Disease – and, of those, 90 percent don’t know they have it, according to the Arizona Kidney Foundation.

 The positive news is that there are proactive approaches to slowing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). “From a medical standpoint, Ace-Inhibitors are a class of medication used to treat high blood pressure,” remarks Dr. Heilman. “They’ve also been shown to slow kidney disease in the early stages, and they could represent the first course of action from your Nephrologist.”

 Dr. Petrides also stresses the importance of a Comprehensive CKD Management Program if you have been diagnosed with kidney disease. “With a regime such as diet manipulation, where we control a patient’s mineral balance and restrict their protein intake, we can make a significant impact on the quality of life of a kidney disease sufferer.” Nephrologists also employ proactive hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular, anemia and bone and disease management programs for treating advanced kidney disease.

The Arizona Kidney Foundation, in partnership with the National Kidney Foundation, also offers the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), which is a free kidney health screening program for individuals at increased risk of developing kidney disease.

Howard Lien, MD, a Nephrologist and the former Chief of Nephrology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, has seen the power of the KEEP screenings firsthand: “It’s important for people with kidney disease to be diagnosed early – those people will benefit the most. The Arizona Kidney Foundation is well-organized and has great volunteers. At the KEEP screenings, I see people without healthcare or access to a primary care doctor, as well as people from all walks of life who are just curious about their health. The critical factor is detecting kidney problems early, so we can make a difference.”

Medical and technological advances will continue to positively impact the lives of those suffering from kidney disease. Dr. Lien is currently studying the data at AKDHC from 2002 to 2005 to analyze the effects of early detection. Dr. Petrides also notes that blood pressure and hormonal blocking drugs are being studied as ways to treat Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), the most commonly inherited disease in the world. “This research may represent some fantastic news for PKD sufferers, as most PKD patients advance to End-stage patients over time,” laments Dr. Petrides.       

 All three of the Nephrologists echo a common goal of the campaign: “Everyone seems to know their cholesterol level these days, now it’s time to ‘Know your GFR’, as well.”

Know your GFR!
www.KnowYourGFR.org
www.ConoceTuGFR.org

Arizona Kidney Foundation is a state wide non-profit foundation dedicated to providing education about Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and helping kidney disease sufferers overcome the medical, financial and logistical challenges of CKD.  In 2008, the Foundation commemorates its 45^th anniversary of providing dynamic programs, direct patient support, kidney health initiatives and organ donation awareness.  For more information, call (602) 840-1644 or visit www.azkidney.org.

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