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In medicine, the BUN-to-creatinine ratio is the ratio of two serum laboratory values, the blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. Outside the United States, particularly in Canada and Europe, the term urea is often used. BUN only reflects the nitrogen content of urea and urea measurement reflects the whole of the molecule , urea is approximately twice that of BUN. In Canada and Europe the units are also different. The units of creatinine are also different , and this value is termed the urea-to-creatinine ratio. The ratio may be used to determine the cause of acute kidney injury or dehydration.
The principle behind this ratio is the fact that both urea and creatinine are freely filtered by the glomerulus; however, urea reabsorbed by the tubules can be regulated whereas creatinine reabsorption remains the same.