Chronic renal failure differential diagnosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aarti Narayan, M.B.B.S [2]
Overview
Differentiating chronic renal failure from acute renal failure and increased Blood urea nitrogen with normal GFR is the most important diagnostic step in evaluating a patient with raised serum creatinine levels, as the latter two conditions can be treated with therapy specific to the underlying etiology.
Acute and chronic renal failure
- Previous measurements of serum creatinine: Normal creatinine levels from recent months or years suggests that the current disease process is more acute and hence reversible. On the other hand, long standing elevated values suggests a chronic disease process.
- Even if the elevated serum creatinine levels are chronic, there is a possibility of superimposed acute process over a chronic condition e.g: urinary tract obstruction, infections, extra cellular fluid volume depletion, nephrotoxin exposure.