Which condition is characterized by elevated serum creatinine and pitting edema?

The condition characterized by elevated serum creatinine and pitting edema is nephrotic syndrome. In nephrotic syndrome, significant proteinuria occurs, leading to a range of systemic effects, including hypoalbuminemia. This low level of albumin in the blood results in decreased oncotic pressure, which causes fluid to shift from the vascular space into the interstitial tissues, leading to edema. The presence of pitting edema is a common clinical finding in this syndrome.

Additionally, renal dysfunction indicated by elevated serum creatinine highlights the kidney's impaired ability to filter waste effectively, which is also a common feature of nephrotic syndrome due to the underlying pathology affecting the glomeruli, where filtration occurs.

Although other conditions like diabetic nephropathy and hypertensive nephrosclerosis can also lead to elevated serum creatinine, they typically do not present with significant edema as a hallmark feature. Tubulointerstitial nephritis may present with elevated creatinine but is generally associated with other symptoms and not characteristically with significant pitting edema. In contrast, nephrotic syndrome directly correlates high levels of proteinuria with edema and renal impairment, making it the most fitting diagnosis in this scenario.