title: Deceiving proteins! A case of lymphoma and high creatinine.
abstract: Estimation of kidney function by measuring serum creatinine is one the commonest laboratory tests conducted in clinical practice. Enzymatic methods are often used to measure serum creatinine. Clinicians should be aware of the limitations of these methods, such as test interference with paraproteins.We present a case of falsely elevated serum creatinine in a patient referred for renal biopsy. The combination of fluctuating creatinine and normal blood urea level was unusual. Serum protein electrophoresis revealed the presence of an IgM paraprotein. Further investigations confirmed an underlying diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma. This case highlights how IgM paraprotein can interfere with creatinine estimation by enzymatic assay and the utility of alternative methods of estimating serum creatinine.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: El Hakem Abdelkarim
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Metraiah
authors.affiliation: NHS Grampian, Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kidder
mesh_terms: D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D003404:Creatinine