What does increased creatinine level indicate?
Consultant Nephrologist,
Knoxville,
USA
Q: I am a 50 years old male who is suffering from high blood pressure for the last one and a half years. That time I underwent blood tests and lipid profile which showed serum creatinine level of 1.2 mg. After a year, I again underwent for the test, which showed serum creatinine - 3.6 mg. At present, my serum creatinine is 4.0 mg and blood urea is 59 mg and haemoglobin is 9.5. How can persistent increasing creatinine level be managed? I consulted a doctor who suggested Amlong 10 mg and Minipress 2.5 mg. Now, my blood pressure is at 130-80 mmHg.
A:You suffer from progressive chronic kidney injury or disease (CKD), probably resulting from hypertension for years. However, you may want to check with your nephrologist about potential other causes which can be ascertained by doing a biopsy of kidney. Further, target goal of blood pressure should be <130/80mmHg while avoiding the exposure to kidney toxic medications over the course of years, both intended to delay the progression of the kidney disease process. Lastly, you would require close monitoring and treatment of some of the complications of CKD including anemia and bone disease.