What is BUN in kidney function?
Overview. 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 is the pathophysiology of BUN?
Diseased or damaged kidneys cause an elevated BUN because the kidneys are less able to clear urea from the bloodstream. In conditions in which renal perfusion is decreased, such as hypovolemic shock or congestive heart failure, BUN levels rise.
What causes elevated BUN levels?
All the following can elevate your BUN: Kidney disease or failure, and blockage of the urinary tract by a kidney stone [8]. High-protein diet [2] Fever or infection, which increases protein breakdown.
What is the principle of BUN test?
A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test is used to determine how well your kidneys are working. It does this by measuring the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood. Urea nitrogen is a waste product that’s created in the liver when the body breaks down proteins.
Why is BUN high in renal failure?
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): Urea nitrogen is a normal waste product in your blood that comes from the breakdown of protein from the foods you eat and from your body metabolism. It is normally removed from your blood by your kidneys, but when kidney function slows down, the BUN level rises.
What do BUN and creatinine levels indicate?
BUN and creatinine levels that are within the ranges established by the laboratory performing the test suggest that your kidneys are functioning as they should. Increased BUN and creatinine levels may mean that your kidneys are not working as they should.
Why is BUN elevated in acute renal failure?
It is normally removed from your blood by your kidneys, but when kidney function slows down, the BUN level rises. BUN can also rise if you eat more protein, and it can fall if you eat less protein. Urine Protein: When your kidneys are damaged, protein leaks into your urine.
Is BUN a good renal function indicator?
Although not as specific as creatinine, BUN can also be used as an indicator of renal function. BUN is not the preferred marker for clearance because it is influenced by factors such as a high protein diet, variables in protein synthesis, and patient hydration status.
What causes elevated BUN and creatinine?
Dehydration generally causes BUN levels to rise more than creatinine levels. This causes a high BUN-to-creatinine ratio. Kidney disease or blockage of the flow of urine from your kidney causes both BUN and creatinine levels to go up.
What reagent is used for bun test?
Urea nitrogen or urea measurements are used in the diagnosis and treatment of certain renal and metabolic diseases. BUN reagent is used to measure urea nitrogen concentration by an enzymatic rate method.