What is used as an indication of renal function, typically ranging from 0.5-1.5 mg/dl?

Creatinine is a waste product generated from muscle metabolism and is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. Because it is produced at a relatively constant rate in the body, measuring serum creatinine levels provides a stable and reliable indicator of renal function. In healthy individuals, the normal range of serum creatinine is typically between 0.5 and 1.5 mg/dL, depending on factors such as muscle mass, age, and gender.

A higher serum creatinine level can indicate impaired kidney function or reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), while lower levels can be seen in individuals with decreased muscle mass. Since creatinine is primarily used to assess kidney health, it serves as a critical biomarker in clinical settings when evaluating renal function.

While Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) levels can also provide information about kidney function, they can be influenced by factors unrelated to renal status, such as hydration levels and protein intake. Similarly, eGFR is a derived value that estimates kidney function based on serum creatinine, age, gender, and race; it is not a direct measurement. Urinalysis can provide various insights into urinary tract health but is not a direct indicator of renal function. Thus, creatinine is recognized as