Cockcroft-Gault Equation:
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The Cockcroft-Gault equation is a widely used formula for estimating creatinine clearance (CrCl), which serves as a surrogate for glomerular filtration rate (GFR). It's particularly useful for drug dosing adjustments in patients with renal impairment.
The calculator uses the Cockcroft-Gault equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation estimates creatinine clearance based on age, weight, serum creatinine, and gender, providing a practical tool for assessing renal function.
Details: Creatinine clearance estimation is essential for drug dosing adjustments, assessing renal function, and monitoring patients with kidney disease or those receiving nephrotoxic medications.
Tips: Enter age in years, weight in kilograms, serum creatinine in mg/dL, and select gender. All values must be valid (age 1-120 years, weight > 0 kg, creatinine > 0 mg/dL).
Q1: Why use Cockcroft-Gault equation?
A: It's widely validated and commonly used for drug dosing adjustments, especially in clinical settings where more complex equations may not be practical.
Q2: What are normal CrCl values?
A: Normal CrCl is approximately 95-125 mL/min for young adults, decreasing with age. Values below 60 mL/min indicate renal impairment.
Q3: When should this calculation be used?
A: Primarily for drug dosing adjustments in patients with renal impairment, and for initial assessment of kidney function.
Q4: Are there limitations to this equation?
A: Less accurate in elderly, obese, malnourished patients, and those with unstable renal function. It may overestimate GFR in some populations.
Q5: How does this compare to other GFR equations?
A: Cockcroft-Gault is older but still widely used for drug dosing. CKD-EPI and MDRD are generally preferred for diagnosis and staging of CKD.