Reading your eGFR before making any cell therapy decision
Quick answer
CKD is staged by eGFR from stage 1 (90 or above) to stage 5 (below 15, usually requiring dialysis or transplant). Regenerative approaches are most plausible while functioning nephrons remain — broadly stages 2 to 4. At stage 5 the goal shifts to quality of life and renal replacement therapy.
eGFR estimates the kidney's filtration rate from creatinine, age and sex, and roughly indicates what percentage of function remains. Knowing your stage matters far more than any advertisement, because every option targets a distinct group of patients.
Stages 1 and 2 are where controlling the cause pays off most: managing diabetes and blood pressure, stopping NSAIDs and cutting sodium. Many patients hold their numbers steady for decades without anything exotic.
Stages 3 and 4 are when patients start seeking additional options, because eGFR keeps sliding despite full medication. This is the group cell therapy research targets — as an adjunct, never a replacement, and with no guaranteed outcome.
At stage 5, or on dialysis, be wary of any offer implying you can stop dialysis. No evidence supports that claim. Focus instead on dialysis adequacy, nutrition, phosphate control and transplant planning if you qualify.
One value says little. Look at the trend across two or three tests three months apart, since dehydration and some drugs move the number.
Stabilising or slowing the decline is realistic. A full return to normal is very rare once fibrosis is established.
Very. A high UACR signals faster progression and tracks treatment response better than eGFR over short periods.
Stages 1-2 usually once or twice a year; stages 3-4 every three to six months, adjusted to how fast values are moving.
Generally not the main research population, and it must never replace dialysis or transplantation.
5 points • reviewed 2026-09-02
Reviewed and last updated: 2026-09-02
5 sources • every claim is traceable
https://www.ehlbio.co.kr
https://www.mfds.go.kr/eng/index.do
https://www.mohw.go.kr/eng/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
https://www.medicalkorea.or.kr/
Last updated: 2026-09-02 · This content is for information only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified doctor before making treatment decisions.
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