Urea:Creatinine Ratio
July 6th, 2018
Overview
In the presence of raised creatinine, urea disproportionately higher than creatinine suggests a prerenal cause such as hypovolaemia, heart failure or shock.
Interpretation
- Elevated ratio: >100:1
- Reduced ratio: <40:1
Elevated Urea:Creatinine Ratio
A urea:creatinine ratio >100:1 is commonly used as a marker of prerenal renal failure. Any cause of isolated urea elevation may also elevate the ratio.
Causes of Elevated Urea:Creatinine Ratio
- Prerenal renal failure - hypovolaemia, sepsis, renal venoconstriction
- Dehydration
- Protein load - GI bleed (especially upper GI), high protein diet
- Catabolic state - trauma, sepsis, starvation, corticosteroids
Reduced Urea:Creatinine Ratio
Causes of Reduced Urea:Creatinine Ratio
- Severe liver failure
- Low protein intake - low protein diet, malnutrition, malabsorption, alcoholism
- Muscle breakdown - body building, rhabdomyolysis
- Pregnancy
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