One of the indicators of the proper functioning of the urinary system is creatinine.
The norm in women's blood changes according to age. Sometimes the increase in the substance is physiological and does not require treatment. However, long-lasting high levels indicate problems in the body.
What is creatinine?
Creatinine is a product of energy exchange in tissues. It is synthesized by muscles and then enters the bloodstream. What is this substance responsible for? Creatinine is an important component of the creatine-phosphate reaction; without it, it is impossible to carry out energy metabolism in tissues.
Since it is a breakdown product, it has a toxic effect on tissues. To neutralize the negative effects of creatinine, the kidneys must work well to remove it from the body.
The greater the muscle mass a person has, the higher the concentration of creatinine. During the day, the indicator remains constant, since muscle mass does not change.
Norm of creatinine in women's blood (table)
The amount of the substance differs between women and men due to differences in muscle mass. Representatives of the stronger sex have a higher concentration of the substance. In addition, creatinine is affected by age, exercise, and diet. However, the weight of these factors creates minor differences in performance.
A significant deviation from the norm indicates that the kidneys are not functioning normally.
Creatinine norms for women by age are presented in the table:
In men, values fluctuate around 75-110 µmol/l. In professional athletes the number is higher, and in old age the level decreases to 65-90.
The list of standard biochemical tests includes a blood test for creatinine levels. This substance is a product formed after muscle contraction during the breakdown of creatine phosphate. In this case, energy is quickly obtained for movement. Therefore, the concentration of a given substance indicates whether the functional activity of the body is preserved or impaired.
What does increased creatinine in the blood mean in men, what are the symptoms and treatment? Let's figure it out!
Characteristics of creatinine
The human body constantly produces creatinine in a certain amount, therefore its content in the blood serum is almost constant. This value depends on the volume of a person’s muscle mass. Therefore, men's creatinine levels are usually significantly higher than women's. This is explained by the fact that the indicator expressing the ratio of muscle mass to total body mass is higher in them.
In general, the substance under study belongs to the group of toxins - substances formed as a result of the breakdown of molecules in the body and released unchanged. In particular, creatinine is synthesized during the breakdown of proteins. It is formed in muscle tissue, after which it enters the blood. This substance must be eliminated from the body, as it has an adverse effect on tissues.
Creatinine is secreted by the kidneys and passes completely from the blood capillaries into the renal tubules. Thus, if the content of this substance increases in the blood, then the likely cause of this will be a violation of glomerular filtration. Blood creatinine is an important diagnostic indicator that determines an accurate diagnosis in the presence of renal pathologies.
Normal creatinine levels
Due to the fact that the level of creatinine in the blood is determined by the volume of muscle mass, this indicator differs by gender and age. For women, the normal value is:
- At the age of 60-65 years – 53-100 mmol per liter;
- After 65 years – 50-110 mmol per liter.
For men, the physiological creatinine content is:
- Up to 60-65 years – 80-120 mmol per liter;
- After 65 years – 70-120 mmol per liter.
It can be seen that with age the creatinine content decreases slightly. This is because older people develop muscle wasting and use less creatine phosphate.
- Newborns - 30-90 mmol per liter;
- Infants (children under 1 year of age) – 20-35 mmol per liter;
- From 1 to 10 years – 30-60 mmol per liter.
In adolescents, creatinine levels range from 40 to 80 mmol per liter.
Physiological increase in creatinine
In some cases, a test for creatinine shows an excess of the normal level, but there is no pathology in the body. Sometimes a high concentration of this substance in the blood can be physiological. Thus, in children during periods of active growth, the functional activity of muscles increases significantly, which means the production of creatinine increases. Therefore, a higher concentration of it can be found in their blood than normal.
A physiological increase in concentration is also observed in old age. It is worth noting that the indicator should not be much higher than normal. A significant increase in the level of the substance in the blood is considered a sign of pathology.
Creatinine production is increased in people engaged in heavy physical labor. With intense muscle loads, they use more creatinine phosphate, which means the creatinine content also increases. The functioning of the kidneys may be normal, but due to the large amount of the substance in the blood, they do not have time to filter and excrete it. Therefore, the analysis determines increased creatinine.
Hormonal levels also have a great influence on the indicator. This factor is especially relevant for women. The level of creatinine in the blood may vary slightly depending on what phase the patient is in the menstrual cycle. A physiological change in the indicator also occurs during pregnancy. In the body of the expectant mother, protein metabolism occurs more intensively, so the release of creatinine will also be accelerated.
An increased level of laboratory indicator is also typical for people who are professionally involved in sports. This is due to the fact that their muscles are subject to great physical activity, and to the type of nutrition of athletes. Typically, their diet contains large amounts of proteins, which are broken down in the body to form creatinine. In addition, many biological supplements taken by athletes to accelerate weight gain contain a specific amino acid - creatine, which in its structure is a precursor of endogenous creatinine.
Thus, an increase in the level of creatinine in the patient’s blood serum is not always a sign of any pathology. The result of the analysis is greatly influenced by age and gender characteristics, the level of physical activity, and the nature of nutrition. All these factors should be taken into account when interpreting test results.
Pathological increase in creatinine
A persistent increase in creatinine levels is a sign that there is some pathological process in the body. This symptom is called hypercreatininemia. Depending on how much the indicator has increased, 3 degrees of the condition are distinguished:
- 1st degree – slight hypercreatininemia;
- 2nd degree – moderate hypercreatininemia;
- Grade 3 – severe hypercreatininemia.
Grades 1 and 2 can be caused by the following factors:
- Unbalanced diet. Increased consumption of proteins, especially of animal origin, leads to an increase in blood creatinine.
- Prolonged fasting. When there is no energy supply, the body first breaks down sugars and fats. Once their reserves in the body are depleted, proteins begin to break down. This process leads to a change in the laboratory indicator.
- Bleeding from the digestive system due to ulcers, erosions, tumors. In this case, the blood flowing into the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract enters into the digestion process. It contains a lot of protein, which is decomposed into amino acids and absorbed into the body. The decomposition of these elements leads to an increase in creatinine levels.
- Severe dehydration. When blood plasma leaves the vascular bed, the blood becomes more “concentrated”, therefore all biochemical indicators, including the creatinine content, increase significantly.
Mild creatininemia is also associated with a number of diseases:
- Mild renal failure;
- Liver diseases associated with toxic or infectious lesions (hepatitis, cirrhosis);
- Gangrene or other massive processes of muscle tissue necrosis;
- Increased functional activity of the adrenal glands – hypercortisolism syndrome;
- Extensive muscle injuries;
- Severe burns;
- Kidney damage (nephropathy) caused by diabetes;
- Increased formation and massive release of thyroid hormones into the blood;
- Myasthenia gravis is a severe hereditary disease that affects muscle tissue;
- Intoxication syndrome due to infections and purulent-septic pathologies;
- Autoimmune diseases (rheumatism and arthritis, vasculitis, lupus);
- Toxicoses in pregnant women.
A significant increase in creatinine levels is observed with severe hypercreatininemia. This condition may be associated with the presence of the following pathologies in the patient:
- Severe kidney damage, accompanied by severe renal failure and a sharp decrease in their functional activity;
- Muscular dystrophy, which is accompanied by active destruction of muscle tissue in the patient’s body;
- Condition after prolonged muscle compression (positional compression syndrome);
- Reperfusion syndrome - the appearance of pathological symptoms after the removal of blood clots from the vessels supplying the muscles;
- Severe infectious lesions of the body, including generalized infection - sepsis.
These conditions require emergency treatment, as they threaten the health and life of the patient.
Treatment of elevated creatinine in men
If an elevated creatinine level is detected in the analysis, you must consult a doctor and undergo a full examination. Only a specialist can determine the origin of this symptom and begin treatment in time.
A slight increase in creatinine levels can be eliminated by changing the patient’s lifestyle. In this case, doctors recommend:
- Choose the right diet containing the optimal amount of proteins;
- Limit alcohol consumption;
- Limit physical activity;
- Drink enough water.
The same measures will be effective in preventing hypercreatininemia.
Thus, creatinine is a breakdown product of protein molecules in the human body. Its level in the blood depends on the coordinated work of several body systems (kidneys, liver, intestines). If the regulation of this indicator is disturbed, hypercreatininemia occurs - an increased content of the substance in the blood serum.
This is an important diagnostic sign, which indicates the presence of severe pathology in the patient’s body. Therefore, if high creatinine is detected in the analysis, it is recommended to consult a specialist and undergo a full examination to establish the cause of this symptom.
Content
A standard blood chemistry test can detect changes in serum or plasma creatinine concentrations. These data are used if necessary to diagnose kidney function. Sometimes the indicators go beyond the normal range, but why does creatinine in the blood increase? The reasons for this deviation are discussed below.
Creatinine is elevated, what does this mean?
To understand what increased creatinine in the blood means, you need to understand what this element is and how it is formed. This substance is the end product of the metabolic breakdown of creatine phosphate, which is an organic compound involved in the process of obtaining energy during muscle contraction. From a chemical point of view, it forms a substance from creatine when the phosphate group is removed from creatine phosphate.
In healthy women and men, this element is constantly generated. There is a specific normal value, which depends on age and muscle volume. For the same reason, men tend to have higher rates than women because they have more muscle mass. The amount of the element will increase with age, so in children the indicator is always lower than in adults. A decrease in the rate is observed during pregnancy due to an increase in the volume of blood circulating in the body.
The element is removed from the body along with urine; it is a “non-threshold” substance (it is completely filtered out in the kidney glomeruli in the absence of pathologies). The element is not subject to reverse absorption, so it leaves the human body completely. The detection of creatinine in a plasma test indicates impaired renal function (renal failure). An important indicator in diagnosis is the Rehberg test:
- The element is measured in plasma.
- Then its amount in the urine is measured.
- The indicators are compared and the clearance of the substance is calculated.
Due to muscle atrophy in the body of an elderly person, the level of the element in question is significantly reduced, therefore, when analyzing kidney function, one cannot rely only on studying the amount of this substance. Kidney function may be reduced significantly more than a blood test for the amount of this substance in serum or plasma will show. In this case, this analysis is not considered indicative.
Normal creatinine level
To understand that creatinine is elevated, you need to know its normal level. Doctors should take into account that the kidneys have hidden reserve capabilities, so normal content is not a reason for an unambiguous conclusion about the absence of diseases. In some cases, even significant damage to the kidney tissue does not affect the level of the element. For diagnosis, data on the amount of urea in the blood is important, which directly indicates the condition of the kidneys.
Blood sampling should be done in the morning before meals. The unit used to measure the level of a substance is mmol/L (millimoles per liter) or µmol/L (micromoles per liter). The following indicators are considered normal for humans:
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Period/Gender |
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Fetus (cord blood) |
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Newborns up to 4 days |
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Teenagers |
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Elevated creatinine in the blood for physiological reasons
There are two factors that can explain why creatinine in the blood is increased - pathological and physiological. The first is caused by diseases that affect the functioning of the kidneys, the second is the body’s natural reaction to external and internal changes that are not dangerous to health. All these factors must be discussed with the doctor during the examination. Creatinine in the blood is increased - physiological reasons:
- Age. In older people, the level of this substance may fluctuate slightly, which is normal. During adolescence in children (a time of active growth), an increase in the amount of the element in question is observed. After this, the level should return to normal.
- Floor. Compared to men, women should have a lower rate (assuming the same age), which is explained by less muscle mass.
- Pregnancy, hormonal levels (in women especially). These two factors can increase protein metabolism, which will lead to the growth of the substance.
- Physical exercise. For athletes, people who engage in active physical labor at work, the norm of the substance should be higher.
- Muscle mass, volume. This factor must be taken into account in the biochemical analysis of the serum of athletes who engage in weightlifting and bodybuilding. The more muscle, the higher the score, which is not considered a symptom of kidney dysfunction.
- Nutrition. Many athletes follow a protein diet to stimulate muscle growth. A large amount of protein leads to increased creatinine in the blood. The same effect is observed with prolonged fasting, which also provokes the destruction of muscle fibers to generate energy.
- Dietary supplements that contain the amino acid creatine also result in elevated plasma levels of the element.
High creatinine in the blood due to pathological reasons
The second group of reasons why creatinine increases relates to pathological abnormalities. This phenomenon is called hypercreatininemia. It can act as an additional symptom of other diseases and be the main criterion for diagnosis. The degree of growth of the substance may indicate the causes of the development of the pathological condition. Two stages of hypercreatininemia can be distinguished.
Moderate, minor – reasons:
- kidney pathology, organ failure 1st, 2nd degree;
- the cause is inflammatory, toxic or cirrhotic liver damage;
- an increased rate is observed due to massive tissue necrosis, gangrene of internal organs and limbs;
- growth occurs due to extensive burns, damage to bones, muscle tissue;
- thyrotoxicosis – hyperfunction of the thyroid gland;
- an increased rate is provoked by diabetic nephropathy, the cause of which is diabetes mellitus;
- myasthenia gravis;
- adrenal hyperfunction;
- the cause of the increased value may be toxic effects on the body from harmful substances, severe pathologies, for example, intestinal obstruction, infection, peritonitis;
- medications that have a nephrotoxic effect can have an effect on the body, which provokes an increased level of the element;
- the cause may be toxicosis, which complicates the course of pregnancy;
- excessive loss of fluid or insufficient intake into the body leads to an increased value;
- massive damage to connective tissue due to an autoimmune disease (lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis);
- decompensated cardiac failure, which has pronounced stagnation in the systemic circulation, causes an increased content of the element.
- Creatinine is a nitrogenous compound that is essentially a waste product (end product) of metabolism in muscle tissue.
- Creatinine is produced from creatine, which is essential for energy production in skeletal muscles.
- Every day in the human body, approximately 2% of creatine is converted into creatinine.
- From muscle tissue through the blood, creatinine enters the kidneys, where it is filtered and excreted from the body in urine.
- Since each person's muscle mass remains relatively constant from day to day, the body's daily production of creatinine remains virtually unchanged.
Why is it necessary to monitor blood creatinine levels?
Thanks to the kidneys, the level of creatinine in the blood is maintained within a certain range, which is considered normal. It has been established that analysis of the actual level of creatinine in the blood is a fairly reliable indicator characterizing kidney function. If the creatinine level is elevated, this indicates existing renal dysfunction, including renal failure. That is why creatinine analysis is provided in the minimum biochemical blood test profile.
What level of creatinine in the blood is considered normal?
Young or middle-aged muscular people may have higher blood creatinine levels than the average for the general population.
People who are fasting, people with significant loss of muscle mass, and vegetarians will have blood creatinine levels below normal for their age. A decrease in the rate is possible in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
After the removal of one of the kidneys, the norm can be considered an increase in creatinine in the blood to 1.8-1.9 mg/dl.
When does creatinine in the blood increase?
Creatinine levels greater than 2.0 mg/dL (177 µmol/L) in children and 5.0 mg/dL (442 µmol/L) in adults may indicate severe renal impairment.
Causes of increased endogenous creatinine:
- acute and chronic renal failure;
- damage to muscle tissue as a result of injuries, surgical interventions, inflammatory processes, including infectious diseases;
- radiation sickness;
- hormonal disorders: acromegaly and gigantism;
- taking nephrotoxic drugs: nitrofurazone, ibuprofen, sulfonamides, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins, salicylates, barbiturates, cimetidine, etc.
- a high protein diet (eating a lot of meat);
- dehydration.
More significant increases in this indicator (> 13.5 mg/dL or > 1200 µmol/L) may be an indication for hemodialysis and kidney transplantation, while other indicators are taken into account: creatinine clearance less than 10 ml/min, and urea content above 35 mmol/l.
What symptoms can be associated with high creatinine levels?
Symptoms of kidney dysfunction (kidney failure) vary widely. Typically, symptoms of kidney failure do not directly correlate with blood creatinine levels. Some patients become aware of high creatinine levels and serious kidney problems completely by accident, without having virtually any symptoms. In other cases, the following symptoms may indicate renal failure:
- increased fatigue, tiredness;
- swelling, especially morning swelling of the face and upper half of the body;
- dyspnea;
- confusion;
- nonspecific symptoms: nausea, vomiting, dry skin, etc.
How to reduce creatinine in the blood?
It should be remembered that a high level of creatinine based on the results of a biochemical blood test is important information for the attending physician, however, it is impossible to make a particular diagnosis only on the basis of such an analysis. Moreover, you cannot engage in self-diagnosis and start treatment on your own without having the necessary knowledge.
If the cause of high creatinine is a disease, then treatment should be aimed directly at eliminating the pathological process and restoring kidney function. After normalization of the urinary system or after restoration of muscle tissue health, creatinine levels return to normal values.
If creatinine has increased due to medication, then a decrease in its level in the blood will occur some time after the end of the course of treatment.
You can reduce creatinine in the blood by normalizing your diet, namely by reducing the amount of meat dishes in it.
What is endogenous creatinine clearance?
A more accurate assessment of kidney function can be made by calculating the rate of creatinine excretion from the body. This indicator is called endogenous creatinine clearance and characterizes the glomerular filtration rate. Endogenous creatinine clearance can be calculated in two ways:
- Creatinine clearance (CrCl, ml/min) is calculated using a formula using the measured serum creatinine level (CrCl, mg/dL). The patient's age in years is subtracted from 140, and the resulting value is multiplied by his weight in kilograms. The result of the calculation is divided by the serum creatinine level multiplied by 72. For women, the resulting value is multiplied by a factor of 0.85. Briefly the formula looks like this:
- Men: KlKr = ((140 – age)×weight)/(72×KrPl);
- Women: KlKr = ((140 – age)×weight)/(72×KrPl)×0.85.
- Creatinine clearance can also be calculated by measuring the level of creatinine in a 24-hour urine sample and its level in the blood (Rehberg-Tareev test). The obtained values are compared. 6 hours before urine collection and blood sampling, the patient should not eat meat, poultry, fish, or tea. During the day while urine collection is being carried out, the patient should not be subjected to heavy physical activity. Urine is collected in a container with a volume of about three liters. The container with collected urine is stored in a cool place; no preservatives are added to it. If necessary, the patient's weight and height are noted. At the end of the day, the volume of collected urine is assessed, about 20 ml of urine is poured into a special container, which is sent to the laboratory to determine the creatinine level. The remaining volume of urine is destroyed. At any time of the day, while urine is being collected, a blood sample is taken from a vein, followed by determination of creatinine.
Normal values of endogenous creatinine clearance
If creatinine clearance is below normal
The measured values of creatinine clearance can be reduced by taking thiazides, diazoxide, triamterene, nephrotoxic drugs, opioid drugs and cannabis.
Low creatinine clearance may indicate the presence of the following diseases:
- Kidney diseases: nephrotic syndrome, congenital kidney diseases, interstitial nephritis, acute tubular dysfunction, papillary necrosis,
- Common diseases: amyloidosis, malaria, myeloma, cystinosis, Wilson-Konovalov disease, vitamin D-resistant rickets.
- Conditions accompanied by decreased blood supply to the kidneys: blood loss, dehydration, heart failure.
- In obstetrics: eclampsia.
By degree of reduction:
If creatinine clearance is higher than normal
The clearance of endogenous creatinine can be increased by: a protein diet, excessive physical activity, amino acid-based drugs, furosemide, carbenoxone, levodopa, methylprednisolone.
High clearance rates can occur with hypertension, diabetes, burns, and pregnancy.
What is the significance of urea levels in the blood?
Urea is another end product of protein metabolism. It is formed in the liver from amino acids and excreted by the kidneys. Urea in the blood is another indicator of the excretory function of the kidneys.
Normal blood urea levels:
Elevated urea levels may indicate impaired renal excretory function or excess urea synthesis due to increased protein catabolism.
Update: December 2018
Currently, all medicine is becoming standardized. This indicator is of paramount importance for assessing the performance of the renal filter, diagnosing chronic diseases of this organ and choosing a method of therapy.
Even 20 years ago, to check kidney function, doctors had to conduct complex tests and take a large number of tests: urea, creatine, uric acid, etc. However, with the development of methods for determining creatinine levels, these problems are a thing of the past. For a modern person, this indicator is enough to draw a conclusion about the state of kidney function.
What is creatinine
A huge number of chemical processes occur non-stop in the body. Their result is the production of not only substances useful to humans, but also various by-products. Creatinine is one of these “natural wastes”. It is obtained from creatine (more precisely creatine phosphate), after it is used to supply muscles with energy. When creatine phosphate realizes its beneficial effect, it is converted into creatinine, which is easily removed from the body.
Almost 100% of this substance is excreted through the kidneys along with urine. If it accumulates in excess, human tissues begin to suffer from this toxin. In addition to the fact that this compound directly poisons cells, increased creatinine in the blood changes its normal acid-base balance. By acidifying biological fluids, it disrupts the normal metabolism in every organ, which can lead to a serious condition of the patient and even death. The greatest danger lies in damage to the brain, respiratory and circulatory systems.
If the normal values are significantly exceeded, it is necessary to promptly reduce the concentration of elevated creatinine.
Norm
Despite the fact that creatinine is an end product and is not used in chemical reactions, its normal amount in the blood is not zero. The body constantly maintains a certain concentration of this compound, not allowing it to be completely excreted. For what? This allows you to maintain the necessary acid-base balance and adequate metabolism in tissues.
Creatinine standards may differ in different laboratories, which is due to the operating characteristics of the equipment, its calibration and the opinion of specialists. As a rule, reference (normal) values are additionally printed on the sheet with the analysis result.
Any deviation from normal values is a reason to repeat the analysis and find out the cause of this condition. It is very important to do this as early as possible, so that if a pathology is detected, therapy can be started in a timely manner and such deadly complications as chronic/acute renal failure can be prevented.
Reasons for the increase
In any population group, there are two main reasons for increased creatinine - excess intake of precursor substances and impaired removal of toxins from the body. In the first case, the change in indicators is temporary and, as a rule, is not associated with the presence of kidney disease. Insufficient excretion of creatinine is always a companion to some kind of renal pathology.
Excess creatinine intake
Before looking for a disease in a person, it is necessary to exclude this particular group of causes. Where can the precursors of this substance enter the blood?
| Source | Creatinine precursors |
Foods high in protein:
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Amino acids - any proteins and complex compounds with proteins (glycoproteins, proteids, nucleoproteins, etc.) break down into amino acids in the digestive system. When absorbed, they are first converted in the liver into creatine, then in the muscles into creatine phosphate and break down to creatinine. |
| Injured muscles. | Creatine and creatine phosphate - large amounts of these substances are found in muscle tissue. When it is damaged, they enter the bloodstream and break down to creatinine. |
| Muscle or connective tissue in severe hyperthyroidism. |
The presence of one of these factors can cause high creatinine. In this case, the indicator does not reflect the functioning of the kidneys and, as a rule, quickly returns to normal - within a few days. To confirm the absence of pathology, it is enough to take a second test after 7-10 days.
Causes of impaired excretion
Damage to the kidney filter and insufficient elimination of toxic substances is the main reason for the increase in creatinine. If the patient has properly prepared and passed the test, or has been repeatedly found to exceed the norm for this indicator, the likelihood of organ damage is extremely high.
There are a large number of diseases that can lead to creatinine retention. It can be quite difficult to detect them, since pathologies often occur hidden and the first signs are detected only in a urine test. The most common of these diseases and their characteristic symptoms are:
| Disease affecting the kidneys | Brief description of the disease | Characteristic signs |
| Glomerulonephritis |
A chronic disease that develops due to constant inflammation in the kidneys. The exact cause of its occurrence is not known to date. Unfortunately, this pathology is incurable. The main thing that the patient must do is to slow down its course with the help of medications and lifestyle changes. |
In some forms, symptoms may be completely absent - changes are detected only in the urine (the appearance of protein, blood cells and other pathological elements). However, the following signs of kidney tissue damage are often observed:
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| Damage to kidney tissue due to hypertension |
All human organs suffer from high blood pressure, but primarily the heart and kidneys. Due to constant hypertension, the kidney tissue begins to shrink, be replaced by connective fibers and lose its functions. |
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| Diabetic nephropathy |
Elevated blood sugar is dangerous because it begins to be deposited in small vessels that nourish human tissue. When they are significantly damaged, irreversible changes begin to occur, and the organs lose the ability to perform their functions. |
Having diabetes of any type, before signs of chronic kidney disease appear. In the absence of a diagnosis of diabetes, you should pay attention to the symptoms characteristic of elevated glucose levels:
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Kidney amyloidosis, including:
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Amyloidosis is a chronic disease with an unknown cause. It is reliably known that it is a frequent companion to any long-term inflammation. With this pathology, an atypical (incorrect) protein, amyloid, forms and accumulates in a person’s organs. It is this that damages the kidney filter and causes an increase in blood creatinine levels. |
The risk group for amyloidosis includes all people with chronic, poorly controlled inflammatory diseases. Unfortunately, there are no characteristic signs of this disease. It causes the same symptoms as glomerulonephritis or diabetic nephropathy. The final diagnosis can be made only after performing a biopsy - examining part of the organ under a microscope with special staining. |
| Coronary artery disease (with narrowing/damage to the renal arteries) | The kidneys produce a biologically active substance that can significantly increase blood pressure. Its amount increases during “oxygen starvation,” which occurs against the background of arterial blockage. | Ischemic kidney disease is characterized by a combination of the following symptoms:
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| Poisoning with nephrotoxic substances | There is a whole group of compounds that can damage kidney cells and cause acute renal failure with a significant increase in creatinine levels. | This condition can only be suspected if nephrotoxic substances are consumed. These include:
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Infections occurring with kidney damage:
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Contrary to popular belief, these diseases exist in Russia and constantly circulate among rodents (mainly rats and mice). Often the disease begins like a normal ARVI. And only after some time does a person develop characteristic signs of pathology. |
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Increased creatinine in children
The presence of this change in the analysis of a child requires a thorough diagnosis. First of all, in order to exclude a false result, it is recommended to once again explain to parents the preparation algorithm before blood sampling and repeat the research. If the laboratory once again detects an excess of the norm, this means that there are clear signs of a pathological process.
Creatinine in children rarely increases due to acquired chronic diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, diabetic or hypertensive nephropathy, amyloidosis, etc. In most cases, the reason for its delay is the following conditions:
- Hyperthyroidism. This disease is not uncommon among young patients. Excess thyroid hormone causes the breakdown of proteins throughout the body, leading to increased activity of the enzyme creatine kinase. As a result, the concentration of metabolic products increases;
- Alport syndrome(synonymous with “hereditary nephritis”). This is a congenital disease in which there is predominantly damage to two organs: the kidneys and the hearing aid. In this case, the child develops glomerulonephritis and hearing loss;
- Congenital kidney abnormalities. These include pathologies such as insufficient development/absence of an organ (hypoplasia or aplasia, respectively), polycystic disease, the presence of a solitary cyst, and others. In most cases, an ultrasound examination is sufficient to make a diagnosis.
Reasons for the decline
Reduced creatinine does not harm the human body, however, such data allows one to suspect the presence of a pathological condition or an abnormal lifestyle. The presence of such a connection is explained quite simply:
- In organs and tissues a certain balance is constantly maintained between chemical processes, various substances and energy exchange;
- To maintain it, a certain amount of various substances is required: amino acids, glucose, fatty acids, trace elements and vitamins. Their quantity can be judged by the person’s well-being and the “by-products” of metabolism;
- Creatinine is a product of amino acid metabolism. A decrease in its concentration, in most cases, indicates an insufficient amount of protein (amino acids) or a deficiency of muscle mass.
There are not many conditions in which a person has low creatinine. These include fasting, a strict vegetarian diet, or myodystrophy (a pathological condition of the muscles in the body). Also, lower values in the analysis can be determined with heavy drinking or intravenous infusions of solutions, due to the “dilution” of the blood. Other causes are extremely rare.
Preparing for analysis
To obtain an adequate result, a person must try to exclude all factors that influence this indicator. Standard preparation for analysis includes:
- Eliminating food intake. It is recommended to take blood for testing no earlier than 4 hours after the last meal. A prerequisite is a small intake of protein into the body. This means that a person should not consume large amounts of meat, fish or dairy products before the examination (no more than 100-200 g);
- Limiting physical activity. Any strength exercise with sufficient load leads to muscle microtrauma. This may affect the study results by slightly increasing the rate;
- Drinking restrictions. Before the diagnostic procedure, it is not recommended to consume large amounts of liquid (more than 1.5-2 liters over several hours). This may lead to false results in the form of low creatinine in the blood.
What is creatinine used for?
Glomerular filtration rate (abbreviated GFR) is the most important indicator of kidney function. It demonstrates how well toxins are removed from the body and quite accurately reflects the condition of this organ. Only by GFR can one not only determine the presence/absence of chronic kidney disease, but also determine its degree.
To calculate this indicator, you just need to know your creatinine level and a few basic data, such as age, gender and race. Glomerular filtration is calculated using complex formulas that are available in almost any online service or program dedicated to the functioning of the urinary system. There are several calculation options, but at the moment, the most relevant are the MDRD and CKD-EPI formulas.
To interpret the results, just use the table below. The presence of chronic kidney disease (or CKD) is a reason to contact your doctor in order to conduct additional diagnostics and determine further tactics.
| CKD stage | GFR level, ml/min | Additional risk of heart and vascular disease |
| Absence of pathology | More than 90 in the absence of signs of kidney damage, such as:
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Virtually absent |
| CKD I | More than 90 in the presence of unfavorable prognostic factors and markers of kidney damage. | There is little risk |
| CKD II | 60-89 | Above average risk |
| CKD IIIa | 45-59 | High |
| CKD IIIb | 30-44 | An extremely high probability of developing a disease or complication from the cardiovascular system. |
| CKD IV | 15-29 | |
| CKD V | Less than 14 |
Methods for reducing creatinine levels
When pathological changes are detected in tests, people ask the question “How to reduce blood creatinine?” However, exceeding the norm of this substance is not the main problem for a person - this is only the “tip of the iceberg”. An increase in its concentration usually indicates a serious renal pathology, which has remained without proper treatment for a long time. Therefore, the main thing is not to get rid of high creatinine, but to slow down/stop the course of the underlying disease.
How to do it? Only the attending physician can answer this question. The tactics will be determined by the type of disease from which the patient suffers. However, we can name general approaches to therapy used for these pathologies:
- Lifestyle change. The main thing in this point is to quit smoking and alcohol, limit the intake of NSAIDs (Paracetamol, Ketorol, Citramon, Coldrex, Antigrippin and others), and gradually lose weight. These measures help slow down damage to kidney cells and are of fundamental importance in treatment;
- Correction of water regime. This nuance is determined individually for each patient. In the first stages of diseases and in the absence of significant fluid retention, a standard scheme is proposed - “volume of fluid consumed = amount of fluid excreted in urine over the past day + 500 ml”;
- Diet with restriction of salt (usually up to 5 g/day) and protein (up to 300-400 g/day);
- Drug therapy. The medications that the patient should take are determined individually. However, the treatment regimen, in the absence of contraindications, should include “protective drugs” that slow down the progression of CKD. These include two main groups: ACE inhibitors and Sartans (synonym - angiotensin receptor inhibitors).
The need for surgery and dialysis is determined depending on the type of pathology and the person’s condition. If there is significant narrowing of the renal arteries, surgical intervention is recommended to expand their lumen and restore nutrition to the organ. With low GFR, in some cases, hemodialysis remains the only option. Therefore, to the question “how to reduce creatinine?” the best answer would be to adequately treat your underlying disease.
FAQ
Question:
What to do if an increased level of creatinine is detected in the blood, but doctors did not find pathological changes in the urine and ultrasound?
Question:
How often should a healthy person check this indicator?
It is included in the screening standards for all patients over 39 years of age. In the absence of pathologies, diagnosis is carried out once every 6 years.
Question:
Should I contact a nephrologist if my creatinine concentration increases?
To begin with, you should contact your local physician with this problem, who will carry out the necessary diagnostics. If necessary, he will refer the patient to a nephrologist or other specialized specialists.
Question:
Can the menstrual cycle affect a woman's creatinine level?
At the moment, there are no studies that would prove the connection between these two conditions.