42 Year Old Female, Blood Creatinine, Serum Low, BUN And Creatinine Ratio High. Do I Have Kidney And Liver Damage?
Creatinine is normally a breakdown product of the muscle. In muscle energy is stored as creatinine phosphate and this is broken down whenever muscle needs energy. The production of creatine is dependent on muscle mass; therefore, baseline creatine and creatinine levels are higher in larger, more muscular people than in smaller people or those without much muscle.
On the other hand BUN represents urea generation and depends on the liver function and protein catabolism.
Creatinine is excreted through filtration and and this is usually effected in failing kidney where it's serum levels are elevated. Reduced serum creatinine is usually seen in people with low muscle mass, muscle diseases and in malnourished or debilitated people .
Hence recheck the creatinine once and build your muscle mass.
Hope I answered your query completely.
Regards
Dr XXXXXXX
I mean, with those numbers does it seem I have liver or kidney problems.
I read somewhere about dehydration....can that be it.
My creatinine serum was low at 0.54, the BUN was a little high at 28.
Thank You - XXXXXXX
As I had written earlier a low serum creatinine is because of a low muscle mass. Even in advanced liver disease - where the creatinine is low the mechanism is once again a low muscle mass. I donot think dehydration causes a low creatinine; it infact rises it because of reduced renal perfusion.
To rule out technical errors repeat the test and try and improve the muscle mass
Regards
Dr XXXXXXX