Elevated Serum Creatinine: But Is It
Renal Failure?
Molly Wong Vega, MS, RD,a,bSarah J. Swartz, MD,a,bSridevi Devaraj, PhD, DABCC, FRSC,a,cSrivaths Poyyapakkam, MD,MSa,b
abstract
Serum creatinine is typically used to evaluate kidney function. Yet, it is a marker that can only provide estimations of kidney function because it can be influenced by other factors, such as dietary intake. The expandingfield of infant formula selection in recent history has given many options for parents who are unable to provide breastmilk. Standard infant formulas and
breastmilk generally fall within a select range of creatine content. With greater accessibility to internet-based medical advice (licensed or unlicensed), parents and families have more chances to be exposed to opportunistic websites and opinions that may provide harmful information. In this report, we describe the case of excessive dietary creatine intake in an infant who presented with elevated creatinine while otherwise appearing healthy and having normal cystatin C. After in-depth evaluation of nutritional intake, there was a suspicion for high creatine load of the infant’s homemade formula, which was composed of beef liver and various unregulated
nutritional powders. Within 12 hours of stopping the infant’s homemade formula and providing intravenousfluids, the infant’s creatinine normalized. We highlight the importance of in-depth nutrition assessments and education on the health risks associated with improper formula selection.
Serum creatinine is used as a marker to evaluate kidney function and estimate glomerularfiltration rate because of its completefiltration by the kidney.1,2 However, there are disadvantages to using creatinine as an indicator of kidney function. Serum creatinine levels can be influenced by age, sex, muscle mass, diet, and chronic illness.3 Advancements have made the use of cystatin C available as a biomarker in the assessment of glomerularfiltration rate. The uses of cystatin C if available are supported by the literature because it appears to follow maturational changes in glomerularfiltration rate more closely.3
Creatinine is formed from creatine. Muscle contains the most significant stores of creatine and creatine phosphate, where they play a critical role in cellular energy metabolism.
Creatine is also essential for
maintaining energy levels necessary for brain development and is important for neural development.4Phosphocreatine spontaneously cyclize to form creatine and then breaks down to creatinine. Creatine is synthesized from arginine, glycine, and S-adenosyl methionine primarily in the liver.5It has been estimated that the infant requirement for creatine is∼4.26 mmol per week (80 mg per day), taking into account growth and creatine loss.6De novo synthesis accounts for∼90% of creatine accretion in infants receiving human milk, with potential decreases in endogenous production in formula-fed infants given higher creatine contents.
In this article, we present the case of a 4-month-old boy with elevated creatinine without previous history of renal impairment receiving
a
Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas; andbSection of Nephrology,cDepartments of Pediatrics and Pathology and
Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Ms Wong Vega and Drs Swartz, Devaraj, and Srivaths drafted the initial manuscript and reviewed and revised the manuscript; and all authors approved thefinal manuscripts submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2828 Accepted for publication Dec 16, 2019
Address correspondence to Molly Wong Vega, MS, RD, Texas Children’s Hospital, Renal Dialysis and Pheresis, 1102 Bates St, Suite 245, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: mrvega@texaschildrens.org
PEDIATRICS (ISSN Numbers: Print, 0031-4005; Online, 1098-4275).
Copyright © 2020 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE:The authors have indicated they have nofinancial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
FUNDING:No external funding.
POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST:The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.
To cite: Wong Vega M, Swartz SJ, Devaraj S, et al. Elevated Serum Creatinine: But Is It Renal Failure?.Pediatrics. 2020;146(1):e20192828
a homemade infant formula, which illustrates the need to critically evaluate this biomarker.
CASE REPORT
A 4-month-old boy, born at 31 weeks (corrected gestational age 8 weeks) with a 5-week NICU stay, with gastroesophageal reflux, presented to the hospital emergency department for evaluation of elevated serum creatinine. He was seen by his pediatrician for his 4-month well-child visit, where his parents informed his physician that they had started him on a custom formula named Weston Price Beef Liver Formula.7This formula consists of 3 3/4 cup chicken broth, 2 oz beef liver, 5 tablespoons lactose (brand NOW), 1/4 teaspoonBifidobacterium
infantis, 1/4 cup homemade liquid
whey, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1/2 teaspoon cod liver oil, 1 teaspoon sunflower oil, 2 teaspoons olive oil, and 1/4 teaspoon acerola powder (brand NOW).7The mother introduced this custom formula without the pediatrician’s knowledge because of concerns related to previous formula intolerance. The infant had been tried on multiple other formulas in conjunction with his pediatrician because of worsening of reflux, constipation, increased fussiness, and nasal congestion. The only other formula that was somewhat agreeable was Alimentum (ready to feed) because it only caused constipation. He had been tolerating the custom formula with no such issues. Because of concern for possible hyponatremia, laboratories were checked, which showed a serum creatinine 1.29 mg/dL (114mmol/L) with repeat creatinine 1.61 mg/dL (142mmol/L). The age-based normal value of creatinine for this patient is
∼0.15 to 0.3 mg/dL (15–30mmol/L). He was seen emergently at this hospital for a recheck, which showed continued increase in creatinine to 2.09 mg/dL (185mmol/L) and with a blood urea nitrogen of 13 mg/dL.
On examination, the patient was a well-nourished infant with a weight of 6.8 kg (40th percentile;Zscore 20.26), length was 57.2 cm (less than the third percentile; Zscore23.21), and head circumference was 40.5 cm (17th percentile;Zscore 20.95). Corrected gestational age anthropometrics were weight: 1.825 (96th percentile), head circumference: 1.33 (91st percentile), and length:20.43 (33rd percentile). He was sleepy but arousable, with a normal blood pressure, moist mucous membranes, and an otherwise unremarkable physical examination. In addition to elevated creatinine, laboratory evaluation revealed mildly elevated serum potassium of 6 mEq/L and mildly elevated phosphorus of 8 mg/dL; the remainder of his electrolytes and blood counts were normal. Additionally, a renal ultrasound revealed both kidneys to be normal in appearance.
The infant’s custom formula was discontinued, and he was started on intravenous maintenancefluids. His repeat laboratory tests 12 hours after starting intravenousfluid showed improvement in creatinine to 0.32 mg/dL (28mmol/L) and blood urea nitrogen of 8 mg/dL. Serum potassium and phosphorus normalized at 4.1 mEq/L and 5.5 mg/dL. Serum cystatin C sent at the same time as creatinine from both the previous day and next morning sample was normal at 0.8 mg/L.
DISCUSSION
Obtaining a cystatin C level was instrumental in confirming our hypothesis: intake of a homemade baby formula led to increases in serum creatinine for this patient. We postulate that this patient’s transient rise in serum creatinine was due to inadvertent high dietary creatine intake.8
High creatine intake could have been achieved by 2 primary sources in this
case presentation. First, this
homemade baby formula included the use of beef liver. Beef contains the largest percentage of naturally occurring dietary creatine. Estimated maximal creatine content of this homemade formula was 197 mg per 1 L recipe or∼1500mmol/L.6For reference, Edison et al9reported creatine concentrations of human milk (70mmol/L) and other common formulas ranging from 10 to
334mmol/L. Recommendations on the avoidance of cow’s milk as a primary source of nutrition for infants have been centered on development of anemia and its high renal solute load.10The creatine content of cow’s milk has been reported at 550mmol/L, meaning this homemade formula could have been
∼3 times higher than the creatine content of cow’s milk.6
Second, this homemade baby formula was made up of many powders and nutritional supplements, thereby allowing for the potential of creatine contamination of any one of these products. In the United States, the dietary supplement industry is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, under the provisions of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. Unlike food stuffs, supplements do not need to be evaluated for efficacy or purity. Many reports exist on contamination of dietary supplements on national and international scale.11,12Weston Price’s Web site gives brand recommendations, of which none were third party tested at the time of the patient’s emergency center visit.4
Creatine has been identified as an ergogenic and medical aide that does not lead to kidney failure in adults with normal kidney function.13It is unknown how higher levels of creatine intake over time would have influenced this infant’s kidney function long term, but given the patient’s elevated potassium and phosphorus alterations, metabolic control was clearly affected, which
could have led to life threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Additionally, the higher renal solute load
could have had similar consequences related to consumption of high renal solute load milks with the potential for developing dehydration.
Serum creatinine, though the most common biomarker of renal function, has some limitations pertaining to the method of measurement as well as some inherent properties. Jaffe’s method of measuring serum creatinine would also measure noncreatinine chromogens (including glucose, vitamin C, proteins, acetone [.50 mg/dL], acetoacetate [.20 mmol/L],b-hydroxybutyrate [.25 mmol/L], pyruvate), which could falsely elevate creatinine concentrations. However the current enzymatic method that measures serum creatinine eliminates the measurement of the chromogens. Our laboratory uses enzymatic method to measure serum creatinine. Other inherent pitfalls, such as muscle mass determining the value of serum creatinine and a secretory component of creatinine elimination in the renal tubule in addition tofiltration, are also present.2
In this case, we exemplify the importance of obtaining a detailed nutritional intake assessment and use of a biomarker like cystatin C to help identify the proper treatment of the infant, in this case a decision between
further evaluation and consideration for dialysis verses simply changing formula. Additionally, it demonstrates the potential risks in providing formulas not regulated by
pharmaceutical level manufacturing standards and how we can better educate parents on the risks of improper formula selection.
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DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-2828 originally published online June 17, 2020;
2020;146;
Pediatrics
Molly Wong Vega, Sarah J. Swartz, Sridevi Devaraj and Srivaths Poyyapakkam
Elevated Serum Creatinine: But Is It Renal Failure?
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DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-2828 originally published online June 17, 2020;
2020;146;
Pediatrics
Molly Wong Vega, Sarah J. Swartz, Sridevi Devaraj and Srivaths Poyyapakkam
Elevated Serum Creatinine: But Is It Renal Failure?
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