If you ask most people outside of Med-Peds, most would say that Med-Peds is a new field. Actually, the initial version of combined Med-Peds training occurred in 1949 in a two year rotating internship. This was replaced by a one year post graduate program.
Your BUN-to-creatinine ratio allows doctors to monitor your kidney health. The BUN-to-creatinine ratio is a routine lab measurement used by your doctor to assess the function of your kidneys. It is calculated by dividing the serum BUN concentration by the serum creatinine concentration. Various conditions affecting your kidneys will alter this ratio in a predictable manner before you even show symptoms. Therefore, it is a useful ratio when monitoring subtle changes in your kidney health.
The BUN/Creatinine ratio is useful in the differential diagnosis of acute or chronic renal disease. Reduced renal perfusion, e.g., congestive heart failure, or recent onset of urinary tract obstruction will result in an increase in BUN/Creatinine ratio. Increased urea formation also results in an increase in the ratio, e.g., gastrointestinal bleeding, trauma, etc. When there is decreased formation of urea as seen in liver disease, there is a decrease in the BUN/Creatinine ratio. In most cases of chronic renal disease the ratio remains relatively normal.