Randome Urine Creatinine query.

[Sophiebun11]

I have Stage 3B now since my autoimmune disease is responding to Prednisone and I jumped from eGFR of 28 and Stage 4. I went up to 50 and now am at 42.

However, on my labs earlier this week my Urine Creatinine was down to 15mg. Normal is 30mg - 125mg.

This is the first time that's been low, and I know it reflects muscle mass and kidney function.

I'm wondering if others in Stage 3 and Stage 4 have low Urine Creatinine along with the high blood Creatinine?

I ask because I'm wondering if the Prednisone is improving my eGFR but not really improving my body, if that makes sense. In other words, if the Pred. is just disguising the true problem?

I wondered if others in Stage 3B or higher Stage 4 have a low Urine Creatinine, if you wouldn't mind sharing.

Thanks.

I'll be asking my Neph in our phone appt. on Wed. He shut his office to visits due to Omicron which is very considerate of his patients.

[sparkie88]

If you have other symptoms such as weakness, severe fatigue muscle pain from not doing anything it might be muscle related such as Rharbdo or a muscle degenerative disorder a malnutrition malabsorption or liver disease. Talk to your Dr about the symptoms you have and your concern about Prednisone it can also be a side effect as well.

[Sophiebun11 in reply to sparkie88]

Thanks sparkie88,I have an autoimmune disease. None of the other things. I have only been on low dose Pred a few months so I'd be surprised but maybe it's built up over the decades of high dose Pred for asthma. I have a blood cancer as well. I'm pretty much a wreck if I thought about it, but I keep putting on my rose colored glasses each morning and keep proving my Drs. wrong. LOL

Rosy glasses

[sparkie88 in reply to Sophiebun11]

Good for you and as long as you are still alive you can still do something. Do talk to Drs whenever you are in doubt and don't stress over labs results it will wreck your health further. Take care all the best!

[userotc]

Re "I'm wondering if others in Stage 3 and Stage 4 have low Urine Creatinine along with the high blood Creatinine?". Im not sure if this helps but mum (stage 3) latest readings indicate:

1. A sudden, recent fall in Urine Creatinine to 1800 umol/l (N=1768 - 24310)

2. A corresponding fall in tot. urinary protein to 0.08g/l (no N but nephro happy <0.5)

3. Continued sharp increase in other proteinuria markers eg 0.44g/24h (N = <0.14)

4. Continued fall in serum Creatinine, now 72 umol/L (N= 40-95) & rise in eGFR to 76.

So a slightly confusing picture I think?

[Sophiebun11 in reply to userotc]

I think the blood is supposed to go up correspondingly with the urine creatine going down, but I could be wrong. Cardiology and Emer. Med. were my fields of study, not Neph.

Thanks for sharing. That does make sense. I'll have to go back and see if mine has been dropping. I didn't pay attention until the big red 'L' was next to the result and I saw how low it was.

[userotc in reply to Sophiebun11]

Im glad you think mum's trends make sense as I cant understand them lol! I decided not to worry just yet but continue to monitor, particularly as the changes are in micro terms.

Essentially nephro happy with serum data (eGFR, creatinine etc) and ignores urinary trends. The sudden drop in Urine Creatinine is currently unexplained although it had been on a general decline previously. Likewise the serum Creatinine (so not opposing trends as you first thought).

[Darlenia in reply to userotc]

Yes, in my hubby's case, all major decisions involved his blood creatinine levels (kidney failure, dialysis, transplant). Medical professionals actually monitor my hubby's creatinine levels behind the scenes in the form of a line graph showing the changes and trends.

[Sophiebun11 in reply to Darlenia]

Hi Darlenia,

Thanks. I like those graphs on the blood tests. My creatinine is higher on blood, but I'd never noticed creatinine dropping and getting so low before on urine tests. So I just wondered. It must be due to my other ailments if it's not common to others here.

[Darlenia in reply to Sophiebun11]

You have a very interesting medical history for sure. Glad you're staying on top of it!

[userotc in reply to Darlenia]

I monitor all my mum's trends graphically. But I trust (hope!) the medical pros understand your hubby's changes/trends better than I do with mum's excellent bloods but disappointing urine data!

[horsie63 in reply to userotc]

I asked my neph about this and his answer was due to the scarring/damage the HBP did which can not be reversed I will always leak protein and the eGFR for me may be very inaccurate as I'm small with a low muscle mass. He's got me doing a 24 hour collection to see if we can use that to get a better idea of my kidney function. We're watching symptoms also as that is a better indication for me. Happily I have an appt on Jun 21 with a registered dietician (no renal ones around here).

[userotc in reply to horsie63]

If I remember correctly, your 24h figure hasnt been tested yet. Mum's latest was 0.44g/24h and continues to rise quickly. She had a consultation with her neph a few days ago and his response to that was that it "wont ever be a worry". Obviously I hope he's right but I think he generally works at much higher levels so maybe less knowledgeable lower down.

His comment re rapid drop in urine creatinine to bottom of range (see earlier here) was "that’s good news". Personally I wouldnt want it to go below range as per Sophiebun11 (original post here) so the imminent retest is worthwhile.

[horsie63 in reply to userotc]

Yes I am doing mine this weekend (June 11-12) and will turn it into the lab on the 13th so I should know something next week. The last one I did was in 2017 which I'll have to go back and get. But that was around the time we discovered the CKD.

[Sophiebun11 in reply to userotc]

If I find out more from my Neph on Wed. I'll let you know in case it will help you with your mom's test results. Thanks again.