Urea | 19-43 mg/dL (Newborn: 6.5-25.5) | High urea and BUN levels are suggestive of poor kidney function due to acute or chronic kidney diseases, decreased blood flow to the kidneys as in congestive heart failure, shock, stress, recent heart attack or severe burns, bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, conditions that obstruct urine flow or dehydration. Low urea and BUN levels are uncommon and are not usually a cause for concern. Although they are not used to detect or track severe liver disease or malnutrition, they can be observed in these circumstances. Normal pregnancy also exhibits low urea levels. |
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) | 6-20mg/dL |
Creatinine | 0.66-1.25mg/dL | Creatinine is elevated in kidney damage, infection, urinary tract obstruction, diabetic complications, congestive heart failure, and reduced blood flow to kidneys due to shock. |
Uric Acid | 3.5-8.5mg/dL | High levels of uric acid are seen in kidney disease, pre-eclampsia, purine-rich food, alcoholism, and side effects of cancer treatment. |
eGFR | Normal >= 90 Mild decrease 60-89 Mild-moderate decrease 45-59 Severe decrease 15-29 End-stage kidney disease < 15 All values in ml/min/1.73m² | GFR is an important parameter for detecting chronic kidney disease. |
BUN/creatinine ratio | 10-20 | High BUN/creatinine ratio suggests kidney injury or loss of muscle mass in a critical illness. |
Sodium | 137 to 145 mmol/L | Sodium levels can increase during dehydration, a disorder of the adrenal glands, kidney disease, and diabetes insipidus. Low sodium levels are caused by diarrhoea, vomiting, kidney disease, liver failure, Addison’s disease, and malnutrition. |
Potassium | 3.5 to 5.5 mmol/L | High levels may be due to kidney failure, hypoaldosteronism, metabolic or respiratory acidosis. Low levels may be due to diarrhoea, vomiting, hyperaldosteronism, and the use of diuretics. |
Calcium | 8.4 to 10.2 mg/dL | Low calcium levels may be due to hypoparathyroidism, kidney failure, pancreatitis, malnutrition, or a disorder in calcium absorption. High calcium levels may be due to hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, sarcoidosis, drugs like diuretics, and excessive calcium supplementation. |
Phosphorus | 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL | Low phosphorus levels may be used for malnutrition, vitamin D deficiency, overactive parathyroid glands, and severe burns. High phosphorus levels may be seen during impaired kidney function, hypothyroidism, liver disease, and diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes) |
Chloride | 98 to 107 mmol/L | High levels may be due to diarrhoea, Addison's disease, metabolic acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, and renal tubular acidosis. Low levels may be due to burns, CHF, metabolic alkalosis, vomiting, dehydration, respiratory acidosis (compensated) |