About Creatinine - Urine
Creatinine is a waste product formed by the normal breakdown of muscle tissue. It is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys, and excreted in urine. The measurement of creatinine in urine is used to evaluate kidney function and monitor the effectiveness of treatment for kidney disease.
Reference Values
Optimal Range
Not specified
Elite Value
Not specified
Health Implications
High
Elevated levels may indicate impaired kidney function or potential kidney damage, potentially necessitating further medical assessment.
Low
Low levels may be associated with decreased muscle mass, chronic kidney disease, or conditions causing impaired renal filtration.
Symptoms
High
May include fatigue, dark-colored urine, swelling in the legs, nausea, and elevated blood pressure.
Low
Can include dizziness, muscle cramps, dehydration symptoms, and frequent urination.
Lifestyle Factors
Specimen Type
Testing Methods
Also Known As
Scientific Sources
- 1. Levey, A. S., Eckardt, K. U., Dorman, N. M., Christiansen, S. L., Hoorn, E. J., Ingelfinger, J. R., ... & Cheung, M. (2020). Nomenclature for kidney function and disease: report of a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus conference. *Kidney International*, 97(6), 1117-1129.
- 2. Inker, L. A., Eneanya, N. D., Coresh, J., Tighiouart, H., Wang, D., Sang, Y., ... & Levey, A. S. (2021). New creatinine- and cystatin C–based equations to estimate GFR without race. *New England Journal of Medicine*, 385(19), 1737-1749.
- 3. Levey, A. S., Stevens, L. A., Schmid, C. H., Zhang, Y. L., Castro, A. F., Feldman, H. I., ... & Coresh, J. (2009). A new equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate. *Annals of Internal Medicine*, 150(9), 604-612.
- 4. National Kidney Foundation. (2022). Clinical practice guideline for the evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease. *Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)*.
- 5. Levey, A. S., Coresh, J., Tighiouart, H., Greene, T., Inker, L. A., & GFR Study Collaboration. (2014). GFR estimation: from physiology to public health. *American Journal of Kidney Diseases*, 63(5), 820-834.