What does a Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) of 5 indicate?

A Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) of 5 indicates a very severely reduced kidney function, which is indicative of end-stage renal disease or severe chronic kidney disease. The GFR measures how well the kidneys are filtering blood, specifically the rate at which blood is filtered through the glomeruli, the functional units of the kidneys.

In healthy individuals, a normal GFR typically ranges from 90 to 120 mL/min, while a GFR below 15 mL/min is generally accepted as stage 5 chronic kidney disease. At this level, the kidneys are functioning at an extremely low capacity, leading to a buildup of waste products and fluids in the body, which can have serious health implications. Patients at this stage may require dialysis or a kidney transplant to manage their condition effectively.

Understanding GFR is crucial in diagnosing and monitoring kidney health, and recognizing a GFR of 5 as severely impaired underscores the critical need for medical intervention in such situations.