M+QuickMedCalc
Educational reference only. Not a diagnostic tool. See full disclaimer.
RenalBUN/Cr Ratio

BUN/Creatinine Ratio Calculator

Calculate the BUN-to-creatinine ratio with SI unit conversion.

Content updated: View sources

Do not divide total urea mmol/L directly by creatinine mg/dL.

BUN/creatinine ratio

Converted BUN

Converted creatinine

Inputs: BUN mg/dL; creatinine mg/dL

About

This calculator normalizes urea or BUN and creatinine to BUN mg/dL and creatinine mg/dL before calculating their ratio. BUN measures only the nitrogen portion of urea, so total urea mmol/L is not numerically interchangeable with BUN mg/dL. The ratio is contextual laboratory information and is not sufficient on its own to identify a cause of kidney dysfunction.

Formula

BUN/creatinine ratio = BUN (mg/dL) / creatinine (mg/dL)
Urea (mmol/L) × 2.801 = BUN (mg/dL)
Creatinine (µmol/L) / 88.4 = creatinine (mg/dL)

Interpretation

Interpretation: Hydration and kidney function affect both values. GI bleeding, protein intake, catabolic states or corticosteroids, liver urea production, and muscle mass can alter the ratio independently.

Limitation: A numerical ratio should be reviewed with trends, the individual analytes, clinical context, and the laboratory method rather than treated as a stand-alone classification.

Worked example: BUN 20 mg/dL and creatinine 1.0 mg/dL gives a ratio of 20.

References

  1. Mayo Clinic Laboratories. Blood Urea Nitrogen, Serum — clinical and interpretive information.
  2. Mayo Clinic Laboratories. International System of Units conversion table.
  3. NIDDK. Clinical measurements and factors affecting creatinine-based kidney estimates.

FAQ

Related Calculators

Disclaimer

Educational and informational reference only. Not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or independent verification.