Why Does Serum Creatinine Level Increase with Kidney Problems

Kidney can excrete and produce serum creatinine. In this way, serum creatinine level is kept in balance in the healthy body. If there is something wrong with kidney, seurm creatinine level will increase. Why does it happen? Here we will make an introcuction for you.
What is serum creatinine?
Serum creatinine describes mixed substances called creatinine in the blood. The normal value of serum creatinine is 44-133umol/L. If the value is above 133umol/L, more than half of the kidney may be impaired. In the clinic, testing serum creatinine level is always used as an important indicator of kidney health. Creatinine is usually produced at a steady speed. When energy is delivered to the muscles, body will generate creatinine which is a byproduct in this process. Muscles make creatine become creatinine by metabolism and then release creatinine into the bloodstream. The kidney is responsible for getting creatinine out of the body. If your kidney function is not well, serum creatinine level can increase.
Why kidney problems cause elevation of serum creatinine?
Serum creatinine is associated with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) closely. As GFR declines, serum creatinine increases. The kidney filters and excretes serum creatinine to keep the balance. Serum creatinine level can be influenced by its generation, glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. As the kidney has some problems, the wastes and toxins will build up in the blood, making GFR decrease. Besides, as the kidney function declines, the filtration of creatinine in the blood will drop, leading to evelation of serum creatinine.
Is it serious with slightly increased creatinine level?
If value of serum creatinine is about 140 or 150, which is just a little higher than the normal value, the kidney function may be almost lost. Patients should take notice of this point. As your kidney function begins to decrease, serum creatinine is accumulating. For kidney disease patients, serum creatinine level begins to increase only when a half of kidney function is impaired. Therefore, elevation of serum creatinine may indicate serious kidney problem.

Patients with kidney problems should pay attention to the value of serum creatinine. If serum creatinine level increases to above standard, timely and proper treatment is required.