Creatinine Clearance (Cockcroft-Gault Equation)
Calculates CrCl according to the Cockcroft-Gault equation.
For use in patients with stable renal function to estimate creatinine clearance.
Result:
Insights from Dr. Cockcroft:
Calculating creatinine clearance was a "simple" resident research project designed by Dr. Henry Gault, my mentor at the time. We set out to evaluate the accuracy of a creatinine clearance nomogram by Siersbaek-Nielsen (1971). Our data, almost identical to that used to create the nomogram, resulted in our formula.
As an asthma specialist, kidney function is not in my area of expertise. I suspect that some key recommendations may occasionally be overlooked. This includes the requirement for renal function to be in a steady state. It is also likely to be inaccurate in significant obesity and fluid retention when "ideal weight" should probably be used. Also, importantly, the formula presumes normal muscle mass and function and will be inaccurate in cases of significant muscle disease, including muscle wasting.
Donald W. Cockcroft, MD, is a professor of medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. He is co-chair of Airways Research Group and the chair of the Quality Assurance Committee. Dr. Cockcroft specializes in asthma practice and research.
Henry Gault, MD, MSc, (d. 2003) was named professor emeritus in 1993 after nearly 20 years as a physician and professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He was also director for the Division of Nephrology at the General Hospital and of the Renal Laboratory. Dr. Gault was a pioneer in the field of nephrology and his work on urine enzymology was a major influence on the discovery of the diagnosis of the rejection of kidney transplants.
- Lynda Szczech, MD, MSCE, FASN, FNKF