Which laboratory value is often monitored in a patient suspected of having post-renal acute kidney injury?

Monitoring serum creatinine level is crucial in assessing kidney function, especially in cases of acute kidney injury, including post-renal acute kidney injury. Serum creatinine is a waste product generated from muscle metabolism and is normally filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. In the case of post-renal acute kidney injury, there is an obstruction in the urinary tract that prevents urine from being excreted, leading to an accumulation of waste products, including creatinine, in the bloodstream.

An increase in serum creatinine levels indicates that the kidneys are unable to effectively filter this substance, reflecting a decrease in renal function. Therefore, tracking serum creatinine levels is essential for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of kidney injury and guiding treatment decisions.

The other laboratory values listed, such as blood glucose level, white blood cell count, and hematocrit level, provide information on different physiological aspects but are not specifically indicative of kidney injury related to post-renal causes. Blood glucose levels measure glucose metabolism, white blood cell count can indicate infection or inflammation, and hematocrit levels reflect anemia or hydration status, none of which directly assess renal function or the effects of urinary obstruction.