Relation between Creatinine and Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

People with kidney disease are very sensitive to their serum creatinine levels but some of them are not very familiar with glomerular filtration rate (GFR). There is a close relationship between serum creatinine level and glomerular filtration rate.

Definition
Serum creatinine refers to end products of creatine in blood. Usually creatinine is excreted in urine and the level of serum creatinine remains fairly constant in healthy people. The normal level of serum creatinine is between 0.6 to 1.2mg/dL (50-110mmol/L) in general. The value is a little different from one hospital to another. Serum creatinine level is used to measure the kidney function since creatinine level may not increase without kidney dysfunction.

Glomerular filtration rate is estimated by a certain machine. Each of our kidneys contains 1 million to 2 million glomeruli. These glomeruli normally work to filtrate blood and to form urine through their physical structures and chemical reactions. Mostly, when your nephrologist talks to you the kidney function, he talks about the glomerular filtration rate. Glomerular filtration rate measures the blood volume that is filtrated in one minute by the glomeruli. Glomerular filtration rate is a very sensitive indicator that is used to describe the kidney filtration function. A lower than normal glomerular filtration rate usually means you have some degree of kidney dysfunction. Our lives are sustained by continual function of the kidneys. So you may have one or some discomforts with inadequate glomerular filtration rate.

Glomerular filtration rate describes the excretory function of kidney in eliminating serum creatinine. If your serum creatinine level is doubled than normal, your glomerular filtration rate is most probably halved. A three times high than normal serum creatinine level means that you only have 25% of kidney function left. These two indicators reflect each other every minute. The higher the glomerular filtration rate is, the lower the serum creatinine level will be and vice versa.

Form this introduction of serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate; you may acquire some knowledge about serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate. 

If you look for natural way to lower high creatinine, please refer to 'Diet Plan to Reduce High Creatinine Level' for more information.

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