What does a creatinine level of 1.04 mg/dL indicate?

Creatinine 1.04 mg/dL: Clinical Interpretation

A creatinine level of 1.04 mg/dL is within normal range and does not indicate kidney dysfunction, requiring no immediate intervention beyond routine monitoring. 1

Normal Reference Range Context

• This value falls well below the threshold for Grade 1 renal dysfunction, which begins at creatinine 1.5-2.0× baseline or absolute values of 1.5 mg/dL 2, 1
• The level is significantly lower than the 1.6 mg/dL (men) or 1.4 mg/dL (women) cutoffs that define elevated creatinine in population studies 3
• This does not meet criteria for acute kidney injury, which requires either an increase of ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours or a 50% rise within 7 days 2, 4

Clinical Significance Assessment

This creatinine level suggests normal kidney function in most clinical contexts. 1

• The value indicates adequate glomerular filtration and does not warrant concern for chronic kidney disease 1
• In dialysis populations, creatinine values below 10 mg/dL may suggest reduced muscle mass or malnutrition, but 1.04 mg/dL is normal for non-dialysis patients 2
• Normal biological variation in creatinine measurements can range 14-17%, so minor fluctuations around this value are expected 4

Recommended Clinical Actions

Continue routine monitoring without specific interventions for the creatinine level itself. 1

• No nephrology consultation is needed at this level 1
• Calculate estimated GFR using MDRD or Cockcroft-Gault equations rather than relying on creatinine alone for complete assessment 1
• Avoid nephrotoxic medications when possible as standard practice 1

Context-Specific Considerations

For Patients on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

• Monitor creatinine prior to every dose as standard protocol 2
• This level does not suggest immune-related nephritis 2, 1

For Patients with Hypertension

• Ensure blood pressure control with target <140/90 mmHg (or <130/80 mmHg if proteinuria or diabetes present) 1
• This creatinine level does not indicate hypertensive nephropathy 5

For Patients with Cirrhosis

• This level does not suggest hepatorenal syndrome, which typically presents with higher values 1, 4

For Elderly Patients

• Creatinine may underestimate renal dysfunction due to decreased muscle mass, so calculate eGFR for accurate assessment 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not interpret isolated creatinine values without clinical context—always compare to baseline if available 2, 1
• Do not assume normal creatinine excludes all kidney disease—check for albuminuria/proteinuria for complete assessment 1
• Do not overlook medication effects or dietary creatine supplementation that can artificially elevate creatinine 6
• Do not use overly sensitive thresholds for concern—changes <0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours are typically within normal variation 2, 4, 7

Follow-Up Monitoring

• Repeat creatinine measurement according to standard clinical protocols based on underlying conditions 1
• No accelerated monitoring schedule is needed based on this value alone 1