Serum Creatinine Interpretation
A creatinine level of 1.14 mg/dL is often within the reference (“normal”) range for many adults, depending on the individual’s sex, age, muscle mass, and the laboratory reference interval. [1]
Lab-Range Dependence
Serum creatinine reference ranges vary across laboratories, so the laboratory’s printed range on the report should be used to define “normal” for that specific result. [1]
Sex-Based Typical Reference Ranges
Typical reference ranges commonly cited in clinical references include about 0.7 to 1.3 mg/dL for men and about 0.5 to 0.95 mg/dL for women, which would place 1.14 mg/dL within range for many men but potentially above range for many women. [1]
Kidney Function Context With eGFR
Interpretation of creatinine should also incorporate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) because eGFR better reflects kidney filtering using creatinine plus demographic factors. [2]
Clinical Nuances and Repeat Testing
Creatinine can change with factors such as dehydration, recent illness, medications, and changes in muscle mass, so a single value is best interpreted with trends and with accompanying tests ordered by the clinician. [2]
When Follow-Up Is Typically Needed
Urgent evaluation is generally warranted if creatinine is newly elevated with symptoms or signs of kidney injury, or if eGFR is reduced or declining. [2]
Practical Next Steps
Review the report for the lab’s reference range and the eGFR value, and compare with prior results to determine whether 1.14 mg/dL represents a stable baseline or a change. [1][2]