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Kidney Diseases

Creatinine level

05/20/2008

Question:

Years of high blood pressure and lithium have left me with kidneys working at half (they are 1/2 normal size). What would cause my creatinine level to go from 2.0 to 2.75?

Answer:

Are you still on lithium?  If so, the damage to the kidneys may be continuing (off lithium, the damage should not progress further). 

Is your blood pressure well-controlled?  If not, the high pressure in your arteries may cause continuing kidney damage.

Other factors that may worsen kidney function are: diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, certain medications (for instance, ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril, angiotensin-receptor blockers such as losartan, nonsteroidal pain relievers such as Motrin), and family history of kidney disease. 

Be sure that you stay under careful medical supervision, so as to preserve the function that you still have.

For more information:

Go to the Kidney Diseases health topic, where you can:

Response by:

Mildred Lam, MD Mildred Lam, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University