SERUM CREATININE AS AN INDICATOR OF RENAL-FUNCTION AFTER SPINAL-CORD INJURY

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine if serum creatinine levels (SCL) in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients are influenced by neurologic level of lesion, sex, age or time since injury, and if serum creatinine (SC) values are a sensitive indicator of renal function (as reflected by renal plasma flow [RPF]) in these patients. The overall SC mean and SD were 0.9 .+-. 0.2 mg/dl (n = 141). There was no difference in SC values between patients with higher injuries (T-6 or above) and patients with lower injuries (T-7 or below), nor was there any difference between patients with lesions < 3 mo., 10-14, 22-26, 34-38, 46-50 or 58-62 mo. in duration. Age and gender each accounted for < 5% of the variation in SC. There was no significant correlation between RPF and SC (unless the patient also had moderate or severe pyelocaliectasis) nor between change in serum RPF (from the previous examination, usually 12 mo. earlier) and change in SC, suggesting that SCL does not reflect the functional status of the kidney in these patients.