What lab value would you most expect to see elevated in a patient with renal failure?

In a patient with renal failure, the most notable lab values that would typically be elevated are blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels. The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste products from the bloodstream, including urea and creatinine, both of which are byproducts of protein metabolism and muscle metabolism, respectively.

In renal failure, whether it's acute or chronic, the kidneys are unable to effectively filter these waste products, leading to their accumulation in the blood. Elevated BUN can indicate the level of nitrogen waste in the blood, while elevated creatinine levels serve as an indicator of renal function. The combination of these elevated levels is a key marker for assessing the severity of renal impairment and is often used to monitor the progression of kidney disease.

Other lab values like blood glucose levels, liver enzymes, and serum electrolytes can be affected in various conditions, but they do not directly reflect renal failure as specifically as BUN and creatinine levels do. Hence, the correct response regarding expected lab values in renal failure points specifically to the elevation of BUN and creatinine.