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A Healthy Active Duty Soldier with an Elevated Serum Creatinine
Trevor W Tobin1, John S Thurlow1, Christina M Yuan1
1Nephrology Service, Department of Medicine, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Military Medicine
|May 3, 2021
Summary
Creatine supplements can elevate serum creatinine levels in soldiers without causing kidney damage. This case highlights the importance of considering supplement use when interpreting lab results.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Nephrology
- Clinical Toxicology
Background:
- Creatine supplements are prevalent among active duty military personnel.
- Both acute renal failure and elevated serum creatinine without renal injury have been linked to creatine products.
Observation:
- A 26-year-old active duty soldier presented with significantly elevated serum creatinine levels.
- The patient had no pre-existing medical conditions.
- Repeat laboratory tests confirmed persistently high creatinine levels.
Findings:
- Investigations ruled out renal injury as the cause of elevated creatinine.
- The elevated levels were attributed to the patient's ingestion of supplements, likely creatine-based.
- This suggests a non-pathological mechanism for creatinine elevation in this context.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider supplement use, particularly creatine, when evaluating elevated creatinine in soldiers.
- Differentiating supplement-induced elevations from actual renal injury is crucial for appropriate patient management.
- Further research may be warranted to understand the prevalence and mechanisms of supplement-related creatinine changes in military populations.
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