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Is A Hemoglobin Level Of 83 In An Elderly Woman A Concern?
Question: My mother has late stage Alzheimer's and has been in a care home since December 2015. Recently the doctor called to say that mom was in acute renal failure with 35% kidney function - a decline since May when she was at 59%. Her hemoglobin is down to 83. She has repeated UTI's and is becoming antibiotic resistant. and of course few meds can be used because of kidney function. Mom also has congestive heart failure. What might be the greatest risks to my moms health. She has opted years ago to have zero interventions. So no blood transfusions etc. Her createnine is elevated and her urea. Is there any possibility that her decline (that has been steady now for 6 months) will plateau or is she at too great a risk?
Brief Answer:
It can be partially reversible
Detailed Answer:
Hi ! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all, it is sad to know what you and your family are going through. Based on the history you have shared, the rising trend of creatinine and urea suggests two possibility. Once is advancement of renal disease and other other is water depletion causing increase in urea creatinine. In elderly or with such illnesses acute renal injury is more common and it may be reversible with fluids in a very calculated way. Keeping in view her heart failure history fluid replacement is more risky. Such fluid and electrolytes replacements and care is possible only in a hospital setup. In her case in my opinion she is having acute of chronic renal failure which may be worsening due to poor intake, use of diuretics or urine medicines for heart failure as well as due to repeated urinary tract infections. If these factors controlled temporarily there might be slight improvement in renal functions. Presence of anemia or decreased hemoglobin favors more for the chronic failure which is irreversible in such patients, but as we have mentioned earlier, acute factors are superimposed on the chronic ones. Hope this has answered your query, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
It can be partially reversible
Detailed Answer:
Hi ! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all, it is sad to know what you and your family are going through. Based on the history you have shared, the rising trend of creatinine and urea suggests two possibility. Once is advancement of renal disease and other other is water depletion causing increase in urea creatinine. In elderly or with such illnesses acute renal injury is more common and it may be reversible with fluids in a very calculated way. Keeping in view her heart failure history fluid replacement is more risky. Such fluid and electrolytes replacements and care is possible only in a hospital setup. In her case in my opinion she is having acute of chronic renal failure which may be worsening due to poor intake, use of diuretics or urine medicines for heart failure as well as due to repeated urinary tract infections. If these factors controlled temporarily there might be slight improvement in renal functions. Presence of anemia or decreased hemoglobin favors more for the chronic failure which is irreversible in such patients, but as we have mentioned earlier, acute factors are superimposed on the chronic ones. Hope this has answered your query, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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