Incidental finding of a high creatinine

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Incidental finding of a high creatinine Abstract. In up to 10 % of patient visiting their General Practitioner and having blood tests an elevated creatinine or reduced kidney function are detected incidentally by the often automatically reported estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by a creatinine-based formula. The most important step in this situation is to evaluate whether reduced kidney function is due to chronic kidney disease or whether the patient presents with an acute kidney injury (AKI). Early detection of AKI is crucial as any delay in accurate therapy can lead to further decline of kidney function and elevated mortality. In addition, intrinsic kidney diseases, which are less common should not be missed because early access to specialised management is crucial. Clinical history including history of medication, context of consultation, clinical evaluation and additional laboratory values will help to provide a first suspicion diagnosis. Further investigations (abdominal sonography, urinary sediment, proteinuria) will help to confirm the diagnosis. In any case of absence of an obvious cause of AKI, young patient, threatening severe renal insufficiency with rapid progression of kidney failure or suspicious laboratory abnormalities, the patient should be referred without any delay to a nephrologist for further evaluation and management.