Why is creatinine high?
Disease description:
I have been exercising regularly, and I recently went to the hospital for a blood test, which showed elevated creatinine levels. I've never had this issue before. I would like to know what might cause high creatinine levels.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Elevated creatinine levels may be caused by several factors:
1. **Reduced kidney function**: One of the main functions of the kidneys is to remove metabolic waste products, including creatinine, from the blood. When the kidneys are damaged, such as in chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, or nephritis, their filtration capacity decreases, leading to impaired excretion of creatinine and a subsequent rise in blood creatinine concentration.
2. **Increased muscle mass**: Creatinine is produced from muscle metabolism, so intense exercise or excessive muscle mass may temporarily elevate blood creatinine levels. However, this condition usually does not lead to persistently high creatinine levels.
3. **Medication effects**: Certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics, or contrast agents, may impair kidney function and indirectly cause an increase in blood creatinine levels.
4. **Dehydration**: Severe dehydration can cause hemoconcentration, leading to an increase in the concentration of various substances in the blood, including creatinine.
