All of which means that if this result shows up in a blood test, further diagnostic procedures or questions and elimination are needed to narrow down the cause. The ratio is mainly indicative of a problem (when high) if it results from a high blood urea nitrogen level rather than decreased creatinine.Ī high bun creatinine ratio can also result from dehydration, in which case the correction is usually simply to drink more water. It can also indicateīleeding in the upper gastro- intestinal tract, which decreases blood flow to the kidneys, and so results in kidney damage.Īn elevated bun creatinine ratio may however be a sign of old age and decreased muscle mass, which lowers creatinine levels. High BUN levels (especially in children or when above 30 to 1) can indicate acute kidney damage, especially from prerenal causes. Ratios higher than 20 to 1 or lower than 10 to 1 (with the above caveat) are both indicative of certain kidney problems. The normal ratio of BUN to creatinine in the blood is between 10 and 20 to 1, more or less, although this “normal” range varies with age and gender. The ratio between them can identify the specific nature of these problems. High levels of either of these in the blood, therefore, is a sign of kidney problems. Both BUN and creatinine are waste products that accumulate in the blood and are removed from the blood by the kidneys and deposited in urine to be expelled from the body.īlood urea nitrogen is produced by the liver as part of metabolic processes, while creatinine is a by- product of muscle activity both are substances that need to be eliminated from the blood. This is a diagnostic test that can tell a physician much about the health of the kidneys. The bun creatinine ratio is a comparison between the concentration of two substances in the blood: creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (or BUN). - Prerenal Azotemia Symptoms & Treatment.- Extra Corporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL).- Elevated Creatinine Ratio, Treatment & Dogs (Cats Too).- Creatinine Levels High & Low Meaning.- Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.Extra Corporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (ESWL).Elevated Creatinine Ratio, Treatment & Dogs (Cats Too).Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Bun normal range low