Q: My mother is suffering from a serious kidney problem. Her creatinine level is 9.1 mg/dl. I would like to know when should we start dialysis? How and whom to contact for a kidney donor? I would really appreciate your quick answer.

A:Your mother’s kidney function as determined by serum creatinine and estimated GFR is less than 10%. When a patient with kidney function less than 15% has also symptoms of weakness, loss or decreased appetite or has vomiting, is losing weight and muscle mass, has breathing difficulty (any one of these), that patient requires dialysis. For kidney transplant as per Indian law she has to have a blood group compatible family donor. Buying and selling of organs is illegal.