Which laboratory finding would most indicate nephrotoxicity risk in a patient receiving chemotherapy?

Which laboratory finding would most indicate nephrotoxicity risk in a patient receiving chemotherapy?

• A. Elevated creatinine
• B. Decreased creatinine
• C. Normal creatinine
• D. Elevated liver enzymes

Answer: (A)

Elevated creatinine signals reduced kidney function, which is what nephrotoxicity from chemotherapy would cause. Creatinine is a waste product cleared by the kidneys, so when the kidneys are damaged or filtration declines, the blood level of creatinine rises. This makes elevated creatinine the most direct indicator of nephrotoxicity risk among the options. A decreased or normal creatinine would not reflect injury, and elevated liver enzymes indicate liver, not kidney, toxicity.

Elevated creatinine signals reduced kidney function, which is what nephrotoxicity from chemotherapy would cause. Creatinine is a waste product cleared by the kidneys, so when the kidneys are damaged or filtration declines, the blood level of creatinine rises. This makes elevated creatinine the most direct indicator of nephrotoxicity risk among the options. A decreased or normal creatinine would not reflect injury, and elevated liver enzymes indicate liver, not kidney, toxicity.