Creatinine Clearance
The Test
How is it used?
To assess the function of your kidneys.
When is it requested?
The test may be requested if you suffer from kidney disease or a condition known to effect kidney function such as congestive heart failure, or diabetes. It may also be requested to assess kidney function prior to the administration of some toxic drugs as dose may be dependent on kidney function.
What does the test result mean?
Very approximately, a normal creatinine clearance is 100 mL/minute. You may find it useful to consider your results in percentage terms. For example if your creatinine clearance is 50, then you have lost about 50% of your kidney function. This may be a permanent or temporary loss. A decreased creatinne clearance may indicate a decrease in the amount of blood filtered by the kidney due to disease within the kidney cells or to decreased delivery of blood to the kidneys. Congestive heart failure, diabetes, dehydration, shock, obstruction within the kidney, or acute or chronic kidney failure are among the possible causes.
Is there anything else I should know?
Certain drugs, such as aminoglycosides, cimetidine, cisplatin, and cephalosporins can decrease the creatinine clearance measurement. Diuretics can increase the result.
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