What can be a sign of kidney dysfunction when measured in the blood?

Increased levels of creatinine in the blood are a well-established indicator of kidney dysfunction. Creatinine is a waste product produced from muscle metabolism and is normally filtered out of the bloodstream by healthy kidneys. When kidney function declines, their ability to filter out creatinine diminishes, resulting in a buildup of creatinine in the blood. Therefore, elevated creatinine levels serve as a useful biomarker for assessing renal health and detecting potential issues such as acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease.

High levels of creatinine can signal that the kidneys are not functioning properly, which often aligns with other clinical findings when evaluating kidney health. Regular monitoring of creatinine levels is a common practice in clinical settings to ensure proper kidney function and to guide further diagnostic decisions and treatment options.

The other options do not typically correlate with kidney dysfunction. For instance, a decreased white blood cell count often pertains to bone marrow issues or autoimmune conditions rather than kidney function. Increased oxygen saturation is generally a measure of lung function and oxygen exchange in the blood, irrelevant to kidney status. Decreased protein levels could suggest malnutrition or liver disease rather than kidney impairment.