12 Subtle Signs of High Creatinine That Could Point to Kidney Problems
Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscles and normally removed from the blood by the kidneys. A high creatinine level can indicate reduced kidney filtration, but it does not by itself diagnose kidney disease. Exercise, muscle mass, dehydration, certain medications, and other factors can also affect the result.
Early kidney disease often causes few or no noticeable symptoms, so blood and urine testing is important.
Possible symptoms that can occur as kidney function declines include:
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, hands, or around the eyes
- Changes in urination — frequency, amount, or needing to urinate more at night
- Foamy or unusually bubbly urine
- Blood or dark-colored urine
- Puffiness or fluid retention
- Nausea or reduced appetite
- Itchy or unusually dry skin
- Muscle cramps
- Headaches or difficulty concentrating
- Shortness of breath, particularly when fluid accumulates
- Unexplained weight loss or a general feeling of being unwell
The important point
Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Creatinine is usually interpreted alongside eGFR and other tests, including urine testing for albumin/protein. A single elevated result doesn’t necessarily mean permanent kidney damage; your clinician may repeat the test and investigate the cause.
Seek urgent medical attention for severe shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, very little or no urine, or rapidly worsening swelling.
