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What Causes Elevated Creatinine Level?
Question: I have a normal bun/creatinine ratio but an eleveated creatinine number and a normal urea nitrogen number, is this cause for concern. What could be the cause of this. I will say I have increased the amount of protein I have been eating and lowered my carb intake significantly for the past six months.
Brief Answer:
Please, what are the numbers?
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I will like to know what the exact creatinine and BUN numbers are. The ratio BUN/creatinine all by itself can be misleading because gross abnormalities in one or both may fail to show up on the ratio. For example, an increased BUN and an increased creatinine would turn out normal and that is for sure not the real state of affairs.
BUN is affected by protein intake and not creatinine. Creatinine is closely dependent on muscle mass as this is a byproduct of muscle breakdown. This means that you increased protein intake would not be a possible explanation of the increased creatinine. I want to have these results to see how abnormal it is.
For now, there is no solid evidence to raised your fear. With more information, I will be able to provide detailed personalized interpretation to this.
In all, I will like the raw results. Increased protein intake is not a possible explanation of this. Not enough information to get too worried right now.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarification if needed.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Please, what are the numbers?
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
I will like to know what the exact creatinine and BUN numbers are. The ratio BUN/creatinine all by itself can be misleading because gross abnormalities in one or both may fail to show up on the ratio. For example, an increased BUN and an increased creatinine would turn out normal and that is for sure not the real state of affairs.
BUN is affected by protein intake and not creatinine. Creatinine is closely dependent on muscle mass as this is a byproduct of muscle breakdown. This means that you increased protein intake would not be a possible explanation of the increased creatinine. I want to have these results to see how abnormal it is.
For now, there is no solid evidence to raised your fear. With more information, I will be able to provide detailed personalized interpretation to this.
In all, I will like the raw results. Increased protein intake is not a possible explanation of this. Not enough information to get too worried right now.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarification if needed.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello,
I just had my annual physical with my Dr. three weeks ago and she has looked at my blood work and knows about this increase and didn't seem too concerned. I am just curious as to what could be causing the creatinine to rise. My numbers are BUN- 25, Creatinine, 1.49 and Bun/creatinine ratio - 17.2. I should mention also that I have had for years three "silent kidney" stones in my right kidney found on an ultrasound(taken for having a urinary track infection) at least 9 years ago. Without the ultrasound, I would not know I had these because I have never had a twinge of pain or any sign of any kidney problem. Can these be causing me a problem now...will they affect my kidney function...I went to a urologist for a few years to have an annual x-ray taken to see if there was any change and there never was so I stopped going. The main stone was the size of a pea and the other two were off shoots of the main stone and very small. They were located right in the middle of the kidney....I don't know if this could contribute to the increase in creatinine...I guess I just want to know the possible causes for an increase. Thank you.
I just had my annual physical with my Dr. three weeks ago and she has looked at my blood work and knows about this increase and didn't seem too concerned. I am just curious as to what could be causing the creatinine to rise. My numbers are BUN- 25, Creatinine, 1.49 and Bun/creatinine ratio - 17.2. I should mention also that I have had for years three "silent kidney" stones in my right kidney found on an ultrasound(taken for having a urinary track infection) at least 9 years ago. Without the ultrasound, I would not know I had these because I have never had a twinge of pain or any sign of any kidney problem. Can these be causing me a problem now...will they affect my kidney function...I went to a urologist for a few years to have an annual x-ray taken to see if there was any change and there never was so I stopped going. The main stone was the size of a pea and the other two were off shoots of the main stone and very small. They were located right in the middle of the kidney....I don't know if this could contribute to the increase in creatinine...I guess I just want to know the possible causes for an increase. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Your doctor should be concerned about this!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for these follow up specifics.
An increased creatinine of 1.49 calls for more investigations to understand what the possible cause is. Because you have been having physicals yearly and this has not been the normal trend, a rise cannot be disregarded as such. There are several different causes of increased creatinine and kidney stones can be one. Others include diabetes, hypertension, infections, drugs, etc.
If you doctor is unable to probe further, conform the abnormality and identify the cause, then he should refer you to see a nephrologist for appropriate evaluation and management.
Please, talk to your doctor and find out why he may not have seemed concerned about these findings. He may be having some information that is not immediately evident to us.
Thanks and come back to me for more information if need be.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Your doctor should be concerned about this!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for these follow up specifics.
An increased creatinine of 1.49 calls for more investigations to understand what the possible cause is. Because you have been having physicals yearly and this has not been the normal trend, a rise cannot be disregarded as such. There are several different causes of increased creatinine and kidney stones can be one. Others include diabetes, hypertension, infections, drugs, etc.
If you doctor is unable to probe further, conform the abnormality and identify the cause, then he should refer you to see a nephrologist for appropriate evaluation and management.
Please, talk to your doctor and find out why he may not have seemed concerned about these findings. He may be having some information that is not immediately evident to us.
Thanks and come back to me for more information if need be.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your input. I will make an appointment with my urologist and see what he wants to do. Perhaps my kidney stones need tobe addressed at this point. He had suggested lithotripsy when the stone was first discovered but due to the size he said it would probably take more than one session to blast it apart and then I would have small pieces coming down and I would then be in tons of pain. From what I have heard of passing stones it is one of the worst pains known to man and frankly it just scared me to death since I never have had one ounce of pain from them so far but if they are causing my kidneys to not function properly then I better investigate it more. Thanks again for your help.
Brief Answer:
I think that's right!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this follow up precision.
It is true that there would be some level of pain associated with this treatment. However, we also have powerful pain medications that would help lessen the intensity of this pain. We may choose to keep being afraid of pains but let's not forget of the more disastrous painless complications that are setting in and would make the quality of live in future to be a lot worse than what it would have been should this stone had been treated earlier despite the inconveniences associated with this.
It is the right solution at this time but, maybe not the most comforting. Talk to your urologist and get more attention to address this. Keep me updated and you can trust and count on my remote support as you navigate through this.
I wish you the best of possible outcomes as you face this challenge. I am available for any more information, clarifications or support that you may want.
Thanks.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
I think that's right!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this follow up precision.
It is true that there would be some level of pain associated with this treatment. However, we also have powerful pain medications that would help lessen the intensity of this pain. We may choose to keep being afraid of pains but let's not forget of the more disastrous painless complications that are setting in and would make the quality of live in future to be a lot worse than what it would have been should this stone had been treated earlier despite the inconveniences associated with this.
It is the right solution at this time but, maybe not the most comforting. Talk to your urologist and get more attention to address this. Keep me updated and you can trust and count on my remote support as you navigate through this.
I wish you the best of possible outcomes as you face this challenge. I am available for any more information, clarifications or support that you may want.
Thanks.
Dr. Ditah, MD.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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