Search
Search
We all know that elevated serum creatinine is the common symptom and sign in many kidney diseases especially in case of persistent high level of creatinine. This is because the level of serum creatinine is mainly up to the glomerular filtration ability. Decrease of filtration ability will result in elevated creatinine which indicates kidney damages caused by various kidney diseases.
Though serum creatinine can reflect the damaged condition of renal parenchyma, it is not sensitive and can not reflect in the early stage of kidney diseases. Only when the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) fall to 1/3 of the normal value can there be obvious increase of serum creatinine. Usually when patients have obvious symptoms and discomforts such as vomiting, nausea, dizziness, headache, abdominal pain, fatigue, restlessness or ever coma, their kidneys have been severely damaged and at this time the serum creatinine begins to increase.
The following are the possible causes for elevated creatinine:
1. For renal insufficiency patients and in case of infections such as colds, pneumonia, intestinal infection, urinary tract infection, etc, there can be increase of serum creatinine in short term.
2. The intake of renal toxicity drugs and medicines such as those containing aristolochic acids can cause renal damages and elevation of creatinine and it can even be irreversible.
3. The relapsing of kidney diseases and in case of oliguria or even anuria, there might be acute renal insufficiency and increase of creatinine.
4. Badly controlled high blood pressure, long term protein leakage in urine (daily protein leakage is more than 1g or even 1.5g) can gradually cause elevated creatinine.
5. Loss of water such as high fever, sweating, inadequate intake of water, diuresis can cause blood concentration and reduced blood flow in the kidneys resulting in high level of creatinine.
6. Over-tiredness and too much intake of meat products can cause transient increase of creatinine.
