Health Information
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Why It Is Done
A Reference blood urea nitrogen (BUN) Opens New Window test is done to:
- See if your kidneys are working normally.
- See if your kidney disease is getting worse.
- See if treatment of your kidney disease is working.
- Check for severe dehydration. Dehydration generally causes BUN levels to rise more than creatinine levels. This causes a high BUN-to-creatinine ratio. Kidney disease or blockage of the flow of urine from your kidney causes both BUN and creatinine levels to go up.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference August 9, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Michael Mallea, MD - Nephrology |
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