Creatinine clearance evaluation in routine diabetes practice.

Abstract

Creatinine clearance measurement based on timed urine collection is not reliable in routine practice. Methods for creatinine clearance estimation have already been established and validated in non diabetic patients. In order to ascertain their validity in diabetic patients, creatinine clearance values were determined in 33 diabetic patients (16 men, 17 women) on two consecutive days by direct measurement and by estimation according to the methods of Kampmann et al., Bjornsson et al. and Cockcroft and Gault. A good correlation (r = 0.73-0.75, p less than 0.001) was observed between measured and estimated creatinine clearance values. The correlation coefficients were stronger in men than in women. The day to day coefficient of variation was poor for creatinine clearance direct measurements (28%) and better for creatinine clearance estimation values (about 17%). These results suggest that methods for creatinine clearance estimation are suitable in diabetic patients for routine clinical practice.