Many people become concerned after a blood test shows a high creatinine level, but creatinine alone does not determine the stage of chronic kidney disease. Doctors use both serum creatinine and eGFR to assess kidney function and classify CKD stages. Understanding how these tests work together can help patients better understand their kidney health and the importance of early treatment.
Chronic kidney disease often develops gradually, and kidney function may decline silently for years. Early detection through blood and urine testing allows treatment to begin before advanced kidney failure develops.
At Prabhakar Bhurke Clinic, Dr. Sandip Prabhakar Bhurke, super specialist nephrologist and transplant physician, provides comprehensive evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease, diabetic kidney disease and advanced kidney failure.
What Is Creatinine?
Creatinine is a waste product produced by normal muscle metabolism.
Healthy kidneys filter creatinine from the blood and remove it through the urine.
When kidney function declines, creatinine levels usually rise.
However, creatinine is influenced by several factors, including:
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Age
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Sex
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Muscle mass
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Body size
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Hydration
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Certain medications
For this reason, doctors usually interpret creatinine together with eGFR.
What Is eGFR?
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is the most important measurement used to stage chronic kidney disease.
It estimates how well the kidneys are filtering blood.
eGFR is calculated using:
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Serum creatinine
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Age
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Sex
A higher creatinine level generally leads to a lower eGFR, but the relationship is not identical for every individual.
CKD Stages Based on eGFR
Chronic kidney disease is classified into five stages.
