BUN Increasing, Creatinine Decreasing

[RickHow]

69, stage 3b, male, single kidney.

Had a renal panel blood test. Have an appointment to review results next week, but the results were available on the internet (portal) today. This one really grabbed my attention. It was my best eGFR result yet. I was normally in the 38 to 41 range (slowly been getting better) and this came out 48!!! BUT my BUN level which has normally been in 24 to 30 range, this time was the all time high of 32!!! I looked at my blood tests in the past. As my Creatinine level has been getting gradually better, this time dramatically so, my BUN level has been getting increasingly worse! It is now highly above normal. This also makes my BUN/Creatinine level way above normal. Any ideas what is going on? We all are told to watch our Creatinine and our eGFR and I'm happy with my direction, but what is causing this BUN to be way too high!

[SamuelChin]

BUN fluctuates with other factors of daily life. So, unless at the ESRD, I wouldn't focus too much. Creatinine level should really concern you if it continues going up. Also, Cystain-C levels may indicate the extension of kidney damage.

Rick, stay strong!

Sam

[RickHow in reply to SamuelChin]

Thanks for your input. My concern was because was at its highest yet at 32. Yet thankfully my Creatinine which usually was at 1.8, was last time down to 1.5 and this time down to 1.46. Thus pushing my egfr up to 48. So it seems the kidney is holding steady, or even improving so it just surprised me that BUN increased so much. Have a doctors appointment Friday to go review, so will be interesting to hear his input. Thanks again.

[lowraind]

Do you eat a lot of protein? This could make your BUN increase.

[RickHow in reply to lowraind]

I have read the protein can cause this. I monitor my protein intake and I think it well within "normal" limits. But naturally every day one can not be perfect. And I have been trying to remember, what was it I ate the day before the blood work. But I just can't remember :). I had just finished a course of 6 days of taking antibiotic Cipro. I'm wondering if that somehow was a reason. That I had only been off the Cipro one day and perhaps the body was not readjusted to normal.

[WYOAnne]

BUN has to do with your electrolytes. Generally if your BUN is above normal you are showing signs of dehydration. However, when in later stages of ESRD you have a new normal for your BUN. Or I should say, I did. My lab a normal BUN is 7-17. Before my transplant my BUN was a steady 50.

This is also a conversation you need to have with your doctor. He should be able to tell you whether you are showing signs of dehydration or if a BUN of 32 is going to be your new normal.

Thoughts are with you.

[RickHow in reply to WYOAnne]

THANKS

[kwikc]

Hello,

BUN is intimately related to liver function, not just kidney function. Here is a good explanation of what is going on with this test.

labtestsonline.org/tests/bl...

[RickHow in reply to kwikc]

THANKS