Chromium-51 ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid glomerular filtration rate: a better predictor than glomerular filtration rate calculated by tbe Cockcroft-Gault formula for renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Objective. To investigate whether the ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a better indicator of the degree of renal involvement than serum creatinine concentration or creatinine clearance calculated by the Cockroft- Gault formula. Methods. We studied prospectively all systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with normal or borderline serum creatinine concentration (< 110 <mu>mol/l) and urinary sediment abnormalities and/or proteinuria in the last 2 yr. EDTA-GFR, serum creatinine concentration, calculated creatinine clearance (Cockroft-Gault formula) and 24-h urine protein were determined at the same time. Renal biopsies were performed in patients with low values of EDTA-GFR or significant proteinuria. Results. Twenty-three patients were identified, of whom 22 were females. The average age of the patients was 31.6 +/- 8.2 yr. Biopsies were assigned to WHO classes as follows: class II, 1 patient; class III, 6 patients; class IV, 10 patients; class V, 6 patients. The average serum creatinine concentration, EDTA-GFR and calculated creatinine clearance were 79.8 +/- mol/l, 74.5 ml/min and 97 ml/min respectively. EDTA-GFR showed abnormal values( < 80 ml/min) in 15 of the 23 patients (65.2%) while calculated creatinine clearance was abnormal ( < 80 ml/min) in three of the 23 patients (13%) (P < 0.001). Using the Pearson correlation test, we did not find any correlation between EDTA-GFR or creatinine clearance values and the sum of activity and chronicity indices. Conclusion. GFR performed by EDTA-GFR correctly predicted renal involvement in SLE patients, whereas GFR calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula may have underestimated renal function. Significant numbers of patients with WHO class III, IV or V lupus nephritis may be missed if biochemical creatinine clearance or serum creatinine concentration alone is used to assess renal disease.