Creatinine is a waste product produced by your muscles and filtered out of the blood by your kidneys. A high creatinine level can signal reduced kidney function, dehydration, or temporary effects from diet and exercise. Because creatinine depends on muscle mass, athletes and men tend to have higher normal values than women or older adults.
Tip: A single high creatinine value doesn’t always mean kidney disease. Always interpret it alongside
eGFR,
BUN, and other kidney markers for context.
Common causes of elevated creatinine
- Dehydration or insufficient fluid intake
- High-protein diet or creatine supplements
- Medications (NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors, diuretics)
- Acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease
- Muscle injury or rhabdomyolysis
- Heart failure or reduced blood flow to kidneys
How to interpret creatinine with other kidney markers
- High creatinine + low eGFR → decreased kidney filtration efficiency
- High creatinine + high BUN → dehydration or renal dysfunction
- High creatinine + normal eGFR → may reflect high muscle mass or diet
When to follow up
- Persistent elevation over multiple tests
- Symptoms such as swelling, fatigue, or dark urine
- Other abnormal results (protein in urine, electrolyte imbalance)
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