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Creatinine Clearance Calculator

Calculate your creatinine clearance, an important measure of kidney function, with our user-friendly calculator.

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Home / Health Insurance / Calculators / Articles / Creatinine Clearance Calculator

Creatinine clearance (CrCI) is a measure of how effectively the kidneys filter waste from the blood. It is a waste product that is produced by the muscles and excreted by the kidneys. The amount of creatinine in the blood and urine over a certain period of time determines the CrCI, which can be estimated using the Creatinine Clearance Calculator based on age, weight, gender, and serum creatinine levels. This test evaluates kidney function and helps diagnose kidney disease, as well as monitor treatment effectiveness.

Creatinine Clearance (Cockcroft-Gault Equation)

Calculates CrCl according to the Cockcroft-Gault equation.

INSTRUCTIONS

For use in patients with stable renal function to estimate creatinine clearance.

Creatinine Clearance Calculator

Year
lbs
mg/dl

The Cockcroft-Gault Equation may be inaccurate depending on a patient's body weight and BMI; by providing additional height, we can calculate BMI and provide a modified estimate and range.

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What is a Creatinine Clearance Calculator?
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A Creatinine Clearance Calculator is a medical tool used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is a measure of kidney function. It calculates creatinine that is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. This measurement can help determine if a person has kidney disease or if their kidney function is declining. The calculator takes into account factors such as age, gender, weight, and serum creatinine levels to provide an accurate estimate of GFR.

Creatinine clearance equation 
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The Cockcroft-Gault equation for creatinine clearance is as follows.

(140 - age) x weight (kg) / serum creatinine (umol/L) x 0.85 for women and 1 for men.

Interpretation

This equation is commonly used to estimate kidney function. A value of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m² is generally considered indicative of chronic kidney disease.

Note: This equation has limitations and should not be used in certain populations, such as those with extremes in muscle mass or those with unstable kidney function. Other equations, such as the MDRD or CKD-EPI equations, may be more appropriate in these cases.

One would need to know their weight, serum creatinine level, and age (if using the original version of the equation). This information can be obtained through a blood test and a basic physical examination.

When interpreting creatinine clearance, it's important to remember that it's an estimate of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). 

It is important to note that estimated creatinine clearance values may not be accurate in all individuals, and additional tests and evaluations may be needed for a more comprehensive assessment of kidney function.

Other creatinine clearance formulas
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Here is a detailed list of other creatinine clearance formulas.

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MDRD Study Equation
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The equation utilises several factors including serum creatinine, age, and race to estimate GFR. It is commonly used by physicians to diagnose and manage chronic kidney disease.

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CKD-EPI Equation
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The CKD-EPI equation is an algorithm used to estimate kidney function based on a person's age, sex, race, and serum creatinine levels. The equation is considered more accurate than older methods for estimating kidney function. It is often used to determine the stage of chronic kidney disease and to monitor kidney function over time.

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Salazar-Corcoran Equation
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The Salazar-Corcoran Equation is another creatinine clearance formula. It is based on age, weight, and serum creatinine levels. The formula is as follows.

For Men: ClCr = ((140 - age) x weight) / (72 x serum_creatinine)

For Women: ClCr = ((140 - age) x weight x 0.85) / (72 x serum_creatinine)

This formula is particularly useful for patients with extreme body weights. However, it is important to note that all creatinine clearance formulas are estimates and should be used with caution.

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The Jelliffe Equation
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The Jelliffe Equation is a widely used formula for estimating renal function. It is particularly useful in situations where direct measurements of renal function are not possible, such as in critically ill patients. The equation is derived from the Cockcroft-Gault formula and takes into account a patient's age, sex, weight, and serum creatinine levels. The Jelliffe Equation is just an estimate and should be used in conjunction with other clinical information.

Methods for measuring Creatinine Clearance
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There are two main methods of measuring Creatinine Clearance, which are as follows.

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24-hour urine collection
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This method involves collecting all urine produced over 24 hours in a container provided by a healthcare provider. The container should be kept cool and returned to the healthcare provider as instructed. The amount of creatinine in the urine is then measured to calculate creatinine clearance.

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Serum creatinine levels
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This method only requires a blood sample. The amount of creatinine in the blood is measured and used along with other factors such as age, sex, and weight to calculate creatinine clearance. This method is less accurate than the 24-hour urine collection method but is less cumbersome for patients to complete.

How to calculate creatinine clearance (explained with an example)
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Creatinine clearance is calculated by measuring the amount of creatinine in the blood and urine.

To calculate creatinine clearance, you need to know the amount of creatinine in the blood and urine, as well as the patient's age, weight, and sex. Once you have this information, you can use the following formula.

CrCl (mL/min) = (140 - age) x weight (kg) ÷ (72 x serum creatinine (mg/dL))

Creatinine Clearance (CrCl) versus Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
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When assessing kidney function, both Creatinine Clearance (CrCl) and Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) are important measures. However, there are some key differences between the two. CrCl measures the amount of creatinine cleared from the body in a 24-hour period, while GFR estimates the rate at which blood is filtered through the kidneys. While both are useful indicators of kidney function, GFR is considered to be the more accurate measure, as it takes into account factors such as age, gender, and body size.

Check out: GFR Calculator

Medications that affect serum creatinine
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Medications can modify the level of serum creatinine, which is an important marker of kidney function. When prescribing medications, healthcare providers should be aware of the potential impact on serum creatinine. Here is a list of medications that modify serum creatinine.

Factors that affect Creatinine Clearance
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Following are some of the factors that have an impact on Creatinine Clearance.

Age
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Age is a critical factor that affects creatinine clearance in the human body. As one grows older, their muscle mass decreases, leading to a subsequent decrease in creatinine clearance. Thus, age is inversely proportional to creatinine clearance.

Gender
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Women generally have lower muscle mass compared to men. As creatinine is formed from muscle metabolism, gender differences in muscle mass result in gender variations in creatinine clearance.

Muscle mass
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Creatinine clearance is strongly related to muscle mass as it is the major source of creatinine production. Therefore, individuals with higher muscle mass generally have higher creatinine clearance.

Diet
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Dietary intake of creatine-containing foods such as meat can increase creatinine clearance. However, a low-protein diet can decrease creatinine production and ultimately lower creatinine clearance.

Medications
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Certain medications can affect creatinine clearance by altering kidney function or muscle metabolism. Examples include antibiotics, NSAIDs, and ACE inhibitors.

Disease states (e.g. kidney disease)
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Kidney disease can significantly decrease creatinine clearance as the kidneys are responsible for filtering creatinine from the blood. Other diseases that affect muscle mass or kidney function can also impact creatinine clearance.

Groups that are difficult to estimate
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There are several populations of patients in which estimating creatinine clearance can be difficult. These populations include the following.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Here is a list of queries with their answers pertaining to Creatinine Clearance Calculator.

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What is creatinine clearance of 30?

A creatinine clearance of 30 indicates that 30 mL of blood is cleared of creatinine by the kidneys per minute.

What is the Cocroft formula?

The Cocroft formula is a formula used to estimate kidney function. It uses the patient's age, weight, and serum creatinine level to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is a measure of kidney function. The formula is: GFR = (140 - age) x weight (kg) / serum creatinine (umol/L) x 0.85 for women and 1 for men.

What factors can affect creatinine clearance values?

Creatinine clearance values can be affected by a number of factors including age, gender, muscle mass, and medical conditions such as kidney disease.

What are normal creatinine clearance values?

Normal values can vary, but generally range from 90-120 mL/min for males and 80-110 mL/min for females.

What are the units of measurement for creatinine clearance?

The units of measurement for creatinine clearance are millilitres per minute (mL/min).

What is the difference between creatinine clearance and glomerular filtration rate?

Creatinine clearance is a measure of the rate at which the kidneys are able to filter waste from the blood, while glomerular filtration rate specifically measures the filtration rate of the glomeruli in the kidneys.

How does age and muscle mass affect creatinine clearance?

Age can affect creatinine clearance as it naturally decreases over time, while muscle mass can increase it.

What are the potential limitations of using creatinine clearance to estimate kidney function?

Limitations of using creatinine clearance include variations in diet and medications, as well as potential errors in the calculation formula.

References

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. Please consult a doctor before making any health-related decisions.

Creatinine Clearance (Cockcroft-Gault Equation)

Calculates CrCl according to the Cockcroft-Gault equation.

INSTRUCTIONS

For use in patients with stable renal function to estimate creatinine clearance.

Creatinine Clearance Calculator

Year
lbs
mg/dl

The Cockcroft-Gault Equation may be inaccurate depending on a patient's body weight and BMI; by providing additional height, we can calculate BMI and provide a modified estimate and range.

in