Can viral infections raise creatinine levels?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 38-year-old male, weighing about 213 pounds and standing 5 feet 9 inches tall. Recently, I experienced a viral illness and took Ibuprofen for headaches. Subsequently, I underwent a blood test, which revealed an eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) of 64.46 ml/min/1.73m² and creatinine of 122. A couple of weeks later, another test showed an eGFR of 77.80 ml/min/1.73m² and creatinine of 104. From my understanding, if this were indicative of kidney disease, these numbers would not have improved, correct? I suspect that the elevated levels were a result of the virus and Ibuprofen use. Additionally, I should note that I have a horseshoe kidney.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Horseshoe kidney is a condition in which the kidneys are fused at the lower end or base, forming a "U" shape, which gives it the name "horseshoe." It is a congenital urological anomaly where one larger, horseshoe-shaped kidney forms instead of two smaller kidneys. "Congenital" means that the condition is present at birth. During fetal development, the kidneys join together to form a shape resembling a horseshoe or the letter U. Another term for horseshoe kidney is "renal fusion." Normally, kidneys in fetuses first form in the lower belly and then migrate upward from the pelvic area towards the back on both sides of the spine. However, with a horseshoe kidney, instead of moving into the typical position around the spine, the kidneys attach at their lower end and sit lower in the pelvis, closer to the front of the body.

A horseshoe kidney usually does not cause serious health problems. If you have a horseshoe kidney, you can still live an active lifestyle. For most people, a horseshoe kidney will not affect life expectancy. But you may be at a higher risk of developing kidney (renal) cancer. The United States healthcare providers diagnose more than 62,000 people each year with kidney cancer. With early diagnosis and treatment, the five-year survival rate for kidney cancer is 77 percent.

Horseshoe kidney affects about 1 in 500 people. People assigned male at birth (AMAB) are more likely to have a horseshoe kidney than people assigned female at birth (AFAB). There is no cure for horseshoe kidney. So, if you do not have any symptoms, you may not need any treatment. But if you have symptoms, treatment can help. Options may include:

Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections such as UTI (urinary tract infection).
Surgery to remove kidney stones or make it easier to pee.

Now, coming to your rise in creatinine, the condition is called acute kidney injury, which occurred because of the viral illness and the painkillers. To be more precise, your condition is called acute interstitial nephritis, and it is in the resolving phase. Do not take any painkillers other than Paracetamol for any kind of pain, headache, or fever. Please repeat the renal function test in another week. We need a few more details to discuss regarding the horseshoe kidney condition. If you can, kindly connect so that we can discuss it, and I can provide you with some ideas.

Thanks for using icliniq, and have a nice day.