When people have a blood test, they often hear the word creatinine. The result of this blood test is the creatinine level, which we can interpret the amount of muscle and the health status of the kidneys of the person. Apart from a blood test, creatinine level can also be measured using 24-hour urine samples
What is Creatinine?
A compound called creatine is produced in the muscles, and the product formed as a result of the breakdown of this compound is called creatinine. The level of creatinine in the blood may vary according to certain factors. These factors include age, gender, and muscle mass. The kidneys filter this waste product, which is broken down in the muscles, and remove it from the body with urine. In the meantime, a balance occurs between production and excretion in the body, and the creatinine level is maintained at the required levels.
If the kidneys do not work properly, the amount in the blood or urine is more than it should be. Some different conditions also affect creatinine levels: diet and physical activity status of the person.
Creatinine levels give very important information about a person's health. For this reason, it is of great importance to control their levels in blood or urine tests.
Although it is generally produced from the muscles in the body, it can also be produced from amino acids taken with nutrition, albeit in small amounts. Since its production is related to the muscles, creatinine levels are high in people with a high percentage of muscle, while creatinine levels are low in people who are old, weak and have a low percentage of muscle. Creatine is used by muscles to produce energy.
An unknown feature of creatinine is that although it is known as muscle waste products, it can play a role in the fight against diseases by stopping bacterial growth in the body.
Blood Creatinine Test
Creatinine levels can be checked from blood tests or urinalysis. can be done. The process of measuring the amount of creatinine in the bloodstream, which is measured with the help of blood tests, is called serum creatinine, and the process of measuring creatinine levels in the urine is called creatinine clearance.
Serum Creatinine: It allows us to control the levels of creatinine in the bloodstream. Creatinine levels allow us to have an idea about kidney functions in general. It helps to define the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is one of the important parameters that give information about kidney health. GFR is a calculation process using some values belonging to a certain patient. These values can be counted as age, gender, weight as well as creatinine. Since creatinine levels vary according to muscle levels, creatinine levels in women are lower than in men. The reference range for creatinine can be between 0.6-1.2mg/dL in men and 0.5-1.1mg/dL in women. With this method, it can be determined how well the kidneys are filtering wastes. Urine test and blood test play a role together in this method.
In some cases, it is recommended that the patient perform these tests frequently and have their values checked regularly.
- People with diabetes
- People with high blood pressure
- People with acute kidney injury
- People with cardiovascular diseases
- Experiencing conditions that may adversely affect the kidneys (kidney stones, enlarged prostate, lupus)
- Family People with a history of severe hereditary kidney damage
- People who have used or continue to use drugs that adversely affect the kidneys, such as lithium, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chemotherapy drugs, cephalosporin antibiotics, or that tire the kidneys for a long time, these tests should be performed regularly at regular intervals.
Which Ranges of Creatinine Levels Are a Risk Factor for Human Health?
The units of measurement of creatinine levels are milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or micromoles per liter. The range of creatinine in the blood is said to be 0.84-1.21 milligrams per deciliter (74.3-107 micromoles per liter). A GFR level of 60 or above is considered normal, GFR levels below 60 may indicate a disease in the kidneys. A GFR of 15 or less is defined as kidney failure.
High Creatinine
When creatinine levels in the blood are elevated, It is understood that creatinine production in any part of the body is increased. Among the factors that may cause an increase in creatinine in the blood:
Chronic Kidney Disease: Some adverse conditions that may cause the kidneys to disrupt processes such as excretion and filtering. Examples of these conditions are kidney failure, kidney infection, and decreased blood flow to the kidneys.
Urinary Tract Obstruction: These are some adverse conditions in which the urine flow is blocked. (Hydronephrosis) These conditions may be an enlarged prostate or kidney stones.
Water Loss: It is kidney damage that may occur as a result of severe dehydration. Low blood pressure as a result of this severe dehydration can also adversely affect the kidneys.
Protein Consumption Is More Than Necessary: Intense protein consumption, taking external protein supplements, and frequent consumption of cooked meat containing plenty of creatinine can also cause creatinine levels in the blood to rise.
Exercise Intensely: When people exercise intensely, working muscles build up creatinine much faster than normal levels. Thus, the creatinine levels in the blood also increase.
Some Medicines: Some antibiotics such as trimethoprim and H2 blockers such as cimetidine can be given as examples.
- Some autoimmune diseases (For example Lupus)
- Goodpasture syndrome
- Gout disorder
- Rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle fibers)
- Muscular dystrophy
- Blood loss due to injury
- Overactive thyroid gland
- Congestive heart failure
- Diabetes
- Problems such as seizures caused by eclampsia in pregnancy or high blood pressure caused by preeclampsia
- Glomerulonephritis, which is inflammation of the glomeruli, can be counted.
High Creatinine Symptoms
- Nausea in the stomach
- Vomiting
- Fatigue, weakness
- Anorexia and associated symptoms weight loss
- Frequent urination,
- Painful-bloody urine
- High blood pressure levels
- Pain in the chest,
- Muscle cramps
- Edema
- Difficulty in breathing
- Dry skin
How to Lower the Level of Creatinine?
In order to reduce creatinine levels, the first thing to do is to determine the cause of the high and follow a path according to this determination. This problem needs to be treated. In addition, it is very important to make differences in nutrition. Limiting the consumption of red meat with high protein levels and reducing doing high-paced, challenging exercises also help.
Low Creatinine
If creatinine levels are below normal, it may indicate that the liver or muscles are not working as they should.
Why Does Creatinine Decrease?
Low Muscle Mass: Age, gender, some diseases may play a role among the causes of low muscle mass. Examples of these diseases are myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy. Excessive weight loss also causes muscle levels to decrease.
Liver Problems: Due to the production of creatine in the liver, low creatinine levels can be seen with the impairment of liver functions because creatinine cannot be produced at normal levels. In chronic liver disease, creatine production may decrease by 50%.
Malnutrition: It is known that creatine is obtained from food as well as being produced in the body, so nutrition is very important.
Symptoms of Low Creatinine
- Weakness in the muscles
- Exercise difficulty
- Pain in the muscles and consequently decreased mobility The underlying cause of low creatinine is liver disease. e symptoms include fatigue, nausea, jaundice, abdominal pain, swelling, bloody or tar-colored stools.
- If the underlying cause is nutritional problems, symptoms such as dizziness and weight loss are observed.
Treatment for Low Creatinine
After the test results show low creatinine levels, other tests are done to prevent some muscle diseases. A muscle biopsy or muscle enzyme test is done to see the extent of muscle damage.
To treat this condition, it is necessary to know the underlying factor that causes low creatinine.
Muscle disease: If the underlying cause is a muscle disease, treatment is aimed at reducing muscle pain, weakness and degeneration. . In this case, it is necessary to make changes in lifestyle and nutrition to increase muscle mass. Increasing the difficulty level of the exercises and exercising regularly increases muscle mass. If low muscle mass is caused by malnutrition or excessive weight loss, it is recommended to consume foods containing plenty of protein frequently. Proper nutrition and limiting or even quitting alcohol consumption can be counted among these changes. You can use the contact form to reach us.
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