What is Creatinine?

Creatinine is a by product of muscle contractions that is excreted and removed from the body through urine. When creatinine phosphate is broken down as the muscles work, it results in the formation of Creatinine.

Creatinine is hardly reabsorbed back into the body if it is at all. The kidneys are responsible for the filtration of Creatinine from the blood. Creatinine is filtered from the body through glomerular filtration. In the case that a person’s kidneys are not properly functioning, the Creatinine levels in the blood will be high and these levels can be measured. When the kidneys are functioning perfectly Creatinine will be successfully filtered out of the body and excreted in the urine. Therefore the Creatinine levels in the urine are normally high.

Creatinine levels in the blood and in urine are used to calculate Creatinine clearance. Creatinine clearance reflects the rate of glomerular filtration. Glomerular filtration rate is important in determining renal function. Creatinine blood test and urine test are thus done to check whether the kidneys are properly functioning. These test types are usually ordered by doctors when they suspect possible kidney failure or in general tests, checking the functioning of all major organs in the body.

Basic or comprehensive metabolic panel tests are common for hospitalized chronically ill patients and healthy individuals as part of their regular physical exams. The results of Creatinine tests are used to monitor the kidneys. They help the medical staff know what level of damage the kidneys are in and how they are reacting to treatment. When the Creatinine levels are high in the blood it means the kidneys aren’t working as they should. This could be because of bacterial infection in the kidneys, acute tubular necrosis as a result of toxins and drugs, obstructions in the urinary tract like kidney stones. It could also point to prostate disease, heart failure or dehydration among other things that may cause reduced blood flow into the kidneys. Damaged muscles may cause a rise is Creatinine levels in the blood. Creatinine levels in the blood may also be lower in the blood during pregnancy. When they are higher in the urine then the kidneys are in good condition. These tests are especially helpful in monitoring the progress of diabetic patients who are known to have kidney dysfunction.

Creatinine is produced and excreted at more or less the same amounts. Urine Creatinine can therefore be measured against other secretions like micro albumin or proteins to not only evaluate kidney health but also diagnose other problems that may arise in the urinary tract. The normal levels of Creatinine in the blood depend with the sex, age, weight and height of individual persons. In an adult male Creatinine is usually at levels of 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams per decilitre of blood. In adult female levels are normal at around 0.5 to 1.1 milligrams per decilitre of blood. Energetic and muscular middle aged men may have a little high Creatinine level in their blood while children have the normal levels. The elderly may have less Creatinine than the normal adult.