What Does High Creatinine With Single Kidney Indicate?

Posted on Fri, 11 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 Answered on

Mon, 5 May 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi , my brother (age 37 ) is diagonosed of a missing kidney in his body . He has only one kidney aloang with creatinine level of 3.7. please advise how serious is his condition and what are the possible treatments this condition has and how does it impact life expectancy.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (25 hours later)

Brief Answer: Compensatory hypertrophy of the healthy kidney Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query. I am medical doctor, an associate in Department of Nephrology, working with an experienced Nephrologist. I answer on his behalf. Sorry for the delay in my response. In people with single kidney the other existent kidney would grow more than usual size and compensate the missing kidney's work. Only that, care has to be taken that the existing kidney do not contract any infection or diseases. But since in your brother the Creatinine levels are high the existing kidney now would have got damaged or hypo-functioning. The cause for the same has to be identified. There are many causes for such kidney failure. The treatment and the life expectancy depends on what problem is affecting the exiting kidney. You may have to get the other kidney extensively investigated with DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) and DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) scans, biopsy if necessary etc to identify the cause and to formulate a management. Wish you good health. Please let me know if there are any other concerns. Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (10 hours later)

Thanks Doctor. his EGFR score is 19.4 .and after further tests it has also been identified that while urinating a part of his urine is going back to his kidney which is further impacting the kidney performance. please advise what could be the next steps.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (11 hours later)

Brief Answer: To be investigated in detail Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for writing back. The GFR and the Creatinine indicate the kidney damage, the urine reflux indicate that there could be a obstruction to the urine flow in the lower part of the urinary tract. The nature and cause of the obstruction has to be determined. As I mentioned, detailed investigation is necessary to know the condition and the damage it has cause do the existing kidney. Only then prognosis and treatment can be planned. Investigations like Ultrasound scan, Micturation urography to know what is blocking the urine outlet. DTPA and DMSA scans to know the functioning of the existent kidney. Wish you good health. Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (1 hour later)

ok Thanks. please suggest the best nephralogists and urologists in mumbai. That would be of great help.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Details below Detailed Answer: Hi, You can consult one amongst the below Dr. M.M Bahadur Nephrologist Jaslok Hospital XXXXXXX Road, Mumbai Dr. XXXXXXX Dubey Nephrologist XXXXXXX super speciality hospital Bhayandar East, Mumbai Dr. XXXXXXX Nephrologist Apex Kidney Care Mulund West, Mumbai regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar