DEAR DR. GOTT: This is being written with the hope you will help me to understand a medical issue. For the past 2 ½ years I have had quarterly blood tests to monitor my liver enzymes and cholesterol levels. In November 2010 these tests also showed my creatinine level was 1.3 and there was a notation from the lab that such was high. When talking with my doctor, he agreed and said we should monitor it. The test in February 2011 was 1.4 but in May it was down to 1.3 again. Then in the August test, it had jumped to 1.8. At first I was told this indicated something serious was going on with my kidneys and my doctor ordered additional blood work to rule out a lab error and help determine the cause. Then those tests were canceled and I’ve been told it’s nothing to worry about. Should I be worried?

DEAR READER: When creatine (important for the production of muscle energy) is metabolized, it produces a waste product known as creatinine, a compound that is produced in the liver. [Read more...]