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Renal Function by Serum Markers

Renal Function by Serum Markers

In this step, Prof. Lee explains three serum markers, including serum creatinine (Ccr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum cystatin-C.

When we use serum creatinine as a marker, we should notice that it is not a reliable indicator for the elderly and those who have unstable renal function. Instead, creatinine clearance is a better indicator for change of renal function.

Besides, Prof. Lee demonstrates the return of Ccr and BUN to normal values in a patient with acute urinary tract obstruction.

For BUN, its normal value is between 7 and 21 mg/dL in the US. However, it is subject to dietary effect, especially in protein foods. Therefore, we can use BUN/ Ccr ratio to avoid this situation.

Ultimately, we can see that serum cystatin-C is a kind of tissue protein, which is less dependent on age, gender, race or lean muscle mass.

If you have any questions about the serum markers, please leave them below.

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Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing in Renal Disease

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