Creatinine is cleared through the kidneys from the body, and a way to check its level is by testing the urine sample. This article discusses this test in detail.
Creatine is an amino acid, which energizes the muscles and helps us get lean body mass. This amino acid is further broken down to creatinine, which is a waste product that is made from the normal breakdown of the muscle tissue. As this waste product is produced, it gets filtered out from the blood through the kidneys and passed out in the urine. One of the ways to check if the kidneys are functioning normally is to do a creatinine clearance test. If your kidneys are not working normally, then the amount of creatinine in your urine decreases while its level in your blood increases. A physician may recommend getting these levels checked as part of the routine tests to check renal functionality.
Creatinine Clearance Test
This test measures how well your kidneys remove creatinine from your blood. It gives better information than a serum test on how well your kidneys are working. This test is performed on both a blood sample and on a sample of urine collected over 24 hours.
Normal Result
Creatinine clearance is measured as milliliters/minute (ml/min). The normal values are:
- Male: 97 to 137 ml/min
- Female: 88 to 128 ml/min
The normal value ranges may vary slightly from one laboratory to another.
Below Normal Result
A low creatinine clearance might indicate a serious kidney disorder. The kidney damage can either be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term), which can be identified by repeated tests over time. A lower than normal value may indicate :
- Life-threatening infection
- Shock
- Cancer
- Low blood flow to the kidneys
- Urinary tract blockage
- Heart failure
- Dehydration
- Cirrhosis
Measures to Follow
If you have a low creatinine clearance, your doctor will guide you to deal with this problem. Diabetics and hypertension patients control their blood-glucose level and blood pressure respectively. For this, they must follow a healthy diet, exercise regularly, take proper medications, and lead a stress-free life. If conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are not present, further tests may be needed to identify the cause of the kidney disease.
Low levels are indications of kidney problems; however, they are not the defining factors. Other tests such as the urine protein test will be performed for a correct diagnosis. Checking the creatinine clearance at regular intervals will help detect any decline in kidney function over time.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
