- Creatinine is a waste byproduct of muscle metabolism where creatine phosphate in muscle is broken down.
- The creatinine clearance test is a measure of the creatinine level in the urine, used primarily to evaluate kidney function.
- With normal kidney function, the serum (blood) creatinine level should remain constant and normal. A high level of creatinine in the blood and a low clearance value in the urine will tell that the kidneys are unable to excrete creatinine in the urine efficiently. A normal reading is 97 to 137 ml/min (milliliters per minute) for a male and 88 to 128 ml/min for a female.
- High creatinine clearance values can be caused by strenuous exercise, pregnancy and muscle injuries.
Chapter: Urine :: 25 April 2007
