Creatinine

The level of creatinine in your body is a marker of kidney function. Creatinine comes from the breakdown of creatine, a muscle protein. Properly functioning kidneys remove creatinine from the blood.

High levels of creatinine mean that the kidneys are not functioning normally. When creatinine levels rise gradually, there are not usually any symptoms, and the higher levels can be detected only with blood tests.

• Certain medications can cause high levels of creatinine.
• A high creatinine level is sometimes referred to as "renal insufficiency."
• If your creatinine level is too high, you may not be able to receive hepatitis C treatments.