Which lab finding is indicative of renal failure?

Increased serum creatinine is a key indicator of renal failure. Creatinine is a waste product that is produced from muscle metabolism and is normally cleared from the bloodstream by the kidneys. When kidney function declines, the kidneys become less efficient at filtering blood, leading to an accumulation of creatinine in the serum. Therefore, an elevated serum creatinine level typically signifies impaired renal function.

In the context of renal failure, other substances like blood urea nitrogen (BUN) may also increase, but serum creatinine is more sensitive and specific to changes in kidney function. Thus, an increase in serum creatinine is often used as a primary marker for assessing renal health, making it a crucial lab finding in diagnosing renal failure.

Other options like decreased serum creatinine, decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and increased albumin levels do not indicate renal failure and often reflect different physiological states or conditions. For example, decreased serum creatinine levels can occur when there is lower muscle mass, and increased albumin levels typically suggest normal or improved renal function rather than failure.