Chronic Renal Failure: Determining the cause.

If a patient's serum creatinine level is elevated and chronic renal insufficiency is suspected, it is important to determine whether the problem is acute or chronic; to determine the cause; to identify secondary causes (including multiple myeloma, renal vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, reflux nephropathy, stone disease with infection, and hypertension); to institute measures to slow the disease; and to control hypertension, hyperphosphatemia, and acidosis.