Kidney Damage with Serum Creatinine Level 1.8

Though there is a reference value for normal creatinine level, there are slight individual differences. For example, creatinine level of 1.8-1.9 is normal for those that are born with only one kidney or have donated one of their kidney.

For female, the normal creatinine level is 0.5-1.0mg/dl (for those that calculate with μmol/l, 1mg/dl equals 88.4μmol/l). And for male, it is 0.7-1.2mg/dl. High creatinine especially persistent high creatinine level usually indicates declined renal functions due to renal damages. But the damage is not severe enough for dialysis and it is still in the early stage of renal damages.

Creatinine in blood is usually higher in those that have more muscle masses such as muscular athletes and middle-aged adults. And the intake of creatine for building muscles and increasing physical strength is also one cause of serum creatinine.

Since serum creatinine mainly comes from muscle metabolism, therefore for those that suffer from muscle atrophy as well as children, the elderly and weak people, their normal serum creatinine level should be lower than the reference level. Therefore creatinine of 1.8 for those people indicates more severe renal damages than others.

Serum creatinine of 2 and above should arouse enough attention and concern for the renal damages especially if the creatinine level continues to increase. If creatinine level of 1.8 can be brought under control timely, further renal damages can be prevented.

The first step is to find out what is the underlying cause of renal damages (high blood pressure, diabetes or others) and take proper and timely measures to eliminate or control the underlying causes. Diet adjustment can help control high creatinine and reduce damages to the kidneys, diets of low-protein, less meat and more fruits and vegetable can help.

For more detailed measuring of your kidney damages and residual kidney functions, you need to take urine test, blood test and kidney function test which are all very simple tests and you can ask for a nephrologist for guidance.