Evaluation of Serum Creatinine Levels as an indicator of Renal Dysfunctioning in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a chronic progressive disease associated with multiple complications, including renal dysfunction. Serum creatinine is a key biomarker for evaluating renal function, and its elevation often indicates impaired kidney function, which significantly affects prognosis in cirrhotic patients. Early identification of renal impairment is essential for optimal management and improved outcomes. Objective: To evaluate serum creatinine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis and determine the prevalence of renal dysfunctioning in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 100 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. Serum creatinine levels were measured for all participants. The normal reference range for serum creatinine was 0.7–1.2 mg/dL. Descriptive statistics were applied using SPSS version 26.0 to summarize the data. Continuous variables were expressed as mean, median, standard deviation (SD), and range, while categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: Out of 100 patients, 58 patients (58%) had elevated serum creatinine levels exceeding 1.2 mg/dL, indicating impaired renal function, while 42 patients (42%) had values within the normal range. The mean serum creatinine level was 1.45 mg/dL, with a median of 1.4 mg/dL and an SD of 0.5 mg/dL. The observed range of serum creatinine values was 0.8–3.2 mg/dL. These findings demonstrate a high prevalence of renal dysfunction among patients with liver cirrhosis. Conclusion: Renal impairment, as indicated by elevated serum creatinine, is highly prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis. Elevated serum creatinine levels may serve as an important indicator of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with liver cirrhosis. These findings may highlight the need for routine and periodic monitoring of serum creatinine within 48 hours for early detection of AKI, enabling timely clinical interventions and potentially improving patient outcomes. Therefore, regular assessment of renal function should be an integral component of the management strategy for patients with liver cirrhosis.