Is Recent Swelling In The Legs Due To Chronic Kidney Disease When High Protein Count Was Found In Urine?

Posted on Fri, 29 Sep 2023

Question: Dear Sir/Madam,

My mother is suffering from chronic kidney disease. She is taking medications (Nefrosave Forte, Dytor 10 mg) for the same. Earlier (around 3 months back) her left arm was swollen which caused us to visit the doctor and upon few tests like CUE, it was detected that she was having high protein content in urine. (+++). This led to us knowing about her kidney disease.

Recently she took a serum electrolytes test (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride).

The report showed that the Potassium presence is 5.9 mmol/Ltr and the reference range is 3.5 - 5.1.

There is a lot of swelling in my mother's legs from last 1 week. Could the high potassium content be responsible for this? Or is it due to the chronic kidney disease? The presence of albumin in urine has not changed in the last 3 months.

Thanks and Regards,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Kampana (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As explained below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for your query.

I have gone through the details. Increase in Potassium is due to CKD. You have to check her creatinine and blood urea levels. If it is persistently raising even after medications she may have to get a dialysis. As her legs are swelling that means her urine output is reduced or the urine is not putting out the waste.

Please follow up regularly with a nephrologist.

I hope this answered your query.

With regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Kampana (28 hours later)

Doctor,
Thanks for your response. Two days back, my mother is found to be having an urinary tract infection and has started taking a 5 day antibiotic course for the same.

My mother also took a serum creatinine test and the value was found to be 1.5 and the reference range is from 0.6 - 1.04.
Could the urinary tract infection be responsible for high potassium and high creatinine levels?

Thanks and Regards,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Kampana (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
As explained below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

The creatinine level is not very high for a CKD patient. Her potassium level is mildly elevated. Is she diabetic? In high sugar levels and as she is having a UTI, can cause an increase in potassium in CKD. I would suggest you control her sugar levels and clear UTI, her potassium levels may come down. If not, then dialysis is the option.

I hope this answered your query.

With regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Kampana (50 minutes later)

Thanks for the response Doctor. Yes, she is a diabetic from last 14 years (and also hypertension since 10 years).

Answered by Dr. Kampana (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
As explained below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Okay, check her sugar levels, and controlling the sugar levels and treating the infection is the first step. Has her treating doctor advised to limit her fluid intake to 1 lt/day. If so, that should be strictly followed.

I hope this answered your query.

With regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana