Information
916.929.8564

Referring to Capital Nephrology

Referral FAX: 916-929-8120

When to Refer Patients for Nephrology

  • Acute kidney injury or abrupt sustained fall in GFR
  • GFR <30 ml/min/1.73m2
  • Persistent proteinuria (Protein to Creatinine Ratio >0.5mg/mg or 24-hour protein urine >500mg/24 hours or Albumin to Creatinine Ratio >300mg/g or 24-hour Albumin urine >300mg/24 hours) on 2 separate lab checks
  • Progression of CKD (A decline in GFR category accompanied by 25% or greater drop in eGFR from baseline and/or rapid progression of CKD defined as a sustained decline in eGFR or more than 5ml/min/1.73m2/year)
  • Nephrotic Syndrome (heavy proteinuria, edema, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and/or hypertension)
  • Patients with a combination of proteinuria and hematuria
  • Urinary red cell casts, RBC > 20 per high power field sustained and not readily explained
  • Severe or uncontrolled hypertension in a person on 4 or more antihypertensive medications
  • Persistent abnormalities of serum potassium
  • Persistent abnormalities of serum sodium
  • Recurrent or extensive nephrolithiasis
  • Incidental diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease on renal imaging
  • Patients with a history of nephrectomy and/or a solitary kidney who have any degree of kidney insufficiency
  • Pregnant woman with any degree of kidney disease
    There are some common conditions that generally do not require Nephrology consultation:
  • Solitary simple renal cysts
  • Controlled hypertension in the absence of diabetes and/or abnormal calculated GFR

Referral Fax number: 916-929-8120