Understanding the numbers.....

Question
Hello.  I am a 63 year old white female trying to understand my situation.  In May '09 I had blood work done and showed elevated creatinine 1.24, with the lab's range being .57 - 1.00.  Below is the creatinine numbers I have just now retrieved from past years.  Because the range was different then, and eGFR was not calculated, it appeared my numbers were in the acceptable range, since the ranges for those years were either .5 to l.4, or .5/6  to l.5.



1997   l.0

1998   1.1

1999   1.1

2000   1.0

2001/2 (don't have)

2003    .8

2004   1.1

2005   1.2

2006   1.0

2007   1.1

2008   1.02

2009   1.24 (May)  eGFR 44

      1.16 (July)   "  47

      1.25 (Sept.)  "  43



I developed high blood pressure this year and am now on Lisinopril 20 mg since June.  Before this year I always had BP of about 110/70.  It is now under good control.  I also take Ramitidine 300 mg twice a day because of GERD symptoms, also since June.  Because of anxiety due to this situation, I also have been given alprazolam .5 mg (take 1/2 pill) to take only when rally needed, which is 3 or 4 times a week.



My internist has not come out and said I have CKD and has not done a urine test.  Please tell me what my situation is.  Also, were the creatinine ranges wrong all these years?  Don't understand why they changed.  Can any meds I am taking effect my numbers?  Also, I had taken Naproxin for over a year until May, and had taken over the counter NSAID's over the years.

Thank you so much for your help, as all this is very confusing and distressing to me.  


Answer
Hi Rosemary,



Thanks for your question on "Allexperts".



While looking at eGFR numbers, it is important to know that even in normal people, GFR declines by 1 ml/min every year after the 3rd decade of life.



With a history of NSAIDs and Naproxen usage on top of hypertension, you could be having CKD. However, a proper work-up needs to be done including  a history and physical alongwith urinalysis, other lab tests and imaging of the urinary tract.



Please discuss this with your internist and ask him to order other tests.



Sincerely,



Dr. Shah