How much kidney failure do you have had in order to have go on dialysis?

Starting dialysis : The need for dialysis is not easily quantified by how much kidney failure you have, other than none. That is because of the multiple kinds of damage a kidney can have, and also on other illnesses you may have, like heart disease, the kind of diet you eat, and even your goal for dialysis (buying time or getting back to work). In general though, kidney function below about 5 ml per minute is a limit.

Kidney function: The decision to initiate dialysis usually is based on several factors. First laboratory testing can be performed to estimate the glomerular filtration rate which typically is 15 or less. In addition clinical signs are taken into account such as the presence of swelling, poor appetite, weight loss, and decreased level of functioning.