Q: My 16 years old sons' blood report stated the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) level as 84, but serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) was found normal and serum creatinine was 1.4 mg/dl. The doctor asked to check blood urea (BU) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN); all were found normal. The recheck of SCr showed 1.25 mg/dl. Is he having chronic kidney disease? He is also having ankle pain problem for the past 5 months (stage 1 ligament damage) for, which the doctor has prescribed non steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications (NSAIDs). Please advise.

A:Slight elevation of serum creatinine in the absence of any evidence of increased protein leakage or blood in the urine along with abnormal kidney ultrasound study usually is not of any significance. This is due to the fact that creatinine level (which is a breakdown product of protein generated from the muscles) also depends upon several additional factors including: diet (protein rich diet like meat tends to cause insignificant rise), muscle mass, specific laboratory testing method or the equipment used and rarely due to interaction of some medications. Hence, it is highly unlikely that your son has chronic kidney disease. Lastly as a caution, while non steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications (NSAIDs) could be taken for few days for the concerned pain, I would recommend avoidance of daily continuous intake just to prevent distant possibility of inducing some degree of kidney impairment in future.