What is BUN blood test called?
A common blood test, the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test reveals important information about how well your kidneys are working. A BUN test measures the amount of urea nitrogen that’s in your blood.
What BUN means?
BUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down.
What is BUN and creatinine test for?
A creatinine test is used to see if your kidneys are working normally. It’s often ordered along with another kidney test called blood urea nitrogen (BUN) or as part of a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). A CMP is a group of tests that provide information about different organs and systems in the body.
What is a high BUN?
Normal BUN levels vary, but high levels in your blood sample usually mean your kidneys aren’t working normally. They can be a sign of kidney disease or failure. Higher than normal BUN levels may also indicate dehydration, high-protein diet, medications, burns or other conditions.
What if BUN is low?
Low values A low BUN value may be caused by a diet very low in protein, by malnutrition, or by severe liver damage. Drinking too much liquid may cause overhydration and cause a low BUN value. Women and children may have lower BUN levels than men because of how their bodies break down protein.
What is high BUN?
The BUN test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in your blood. Urea nitrogen is a waste product that your kidneys remove from your blood. Higher than normal BUN levels may be a sign that your kidneys aren’t working well. People with early kidney disease may not have any symptoms.
What happens if BUN is high?
What is a normal BUN and creatinine level?
Reference Range:
| Analyte | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| BUN, 0-18 Years | 5-18 mg/dL | 5-18 mg/dL |
| BUN, ≥19 Years | 8-23 mg/dL | 8-23 mg/dL |
| Creatinine, ≤2 Days | 0.79-1.58 mg/dL | 0.79-1.58 mg/dL |
| Creatinine, 3-27 Days | 0.35-1.23 mg/dL | 0.35-1.23 mg/dL |
What causes high BUN?
A high BUN value may be caused by a high-protein diet, Addison’s disease, or tissue damage (such as from severe burns), or from bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. High BUN-to-creatinine ratios occur with sudden (acute) kidney problems, which may be caused by shock or severe dehydration.
When BUN and creatinine is high?
The ideal ratio of BUN to creatinine falls between 10-to-1 and 20-to-1. Having a ratio above this range could mean you may not be getting enough blood flow to your kidneys, and could have conditions such as congestive heart failure, dehydration, or gastrointestinal bleeding.
What is BUN in blood test low?
Abnormally low levels of BUN can be a sign of malnutrition, lack of protein in the diet, and liver disease. Therefore, other tests included in a panel test like the comprehensive metabolic panel may provide helpful information for understanding the significance of low blood urea nitrogen.
How do I reduce BUN?
Proper hydration is the most effective way to lower BUN levels. A low-protein diet can also help lower BUN levels. A medication wouldn’t be recommended to lower BUN levels….Lower BUN levels can indicate:
- liver failure.
- malnutrition.
- severe lack of protein in the diet.
- overhydration.
What causes BUN to increase?
Higher than normal BUN levels can also be caused by dehydration (too little fluid in your body), burns, certain medicines, a high protein diet, or other factors, including your age. BUN levels normally increase as you get older. To learn what your results mean, talk to your health care provider.