1. What is the DaVita GFR Creatinine Clearance Formula?

The DaVita GFR Creatinine Clearance formula estimates creatinine clearance (CrCl) from serum creatinine, age, weight, and gender. It's commonly used for medication dosing adjustments in patients with kidney impairment.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the DaVita formula:

Where:

• \( Age \) — Age in years
• \( Weight \) — Body weight in kilograms
• \( Cr \) — Serum creatinine (mg/dL)
• 0.85 — Female adjustment factor

Explanation: The formula estimates the rate at which creatinine is cleared from the blood by the kidneys, which correlates with kidney function.

3. Importance of CrCl Calculation

Details: Creatinine clearance is crucial for adjusting medication dosages in patients with impaired kidney function to prevent toxicity or underdosing.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter age in years, weight in kg, serum creatinine in mg/dL, and select gender. All values must be valid (age between 1-120, weight > 0, creatinine > 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between CrCl and eGFR?
A: CrCl estimates actual creatinine clearance, while eGFR estimates glomerular filtration rate adjusted for body surface area.

Q2: When should I use this formula?
A: Primarily for medication dosing adjustments in patients with kidney impairment.

Q3: What are normal CrCl values?
A: Normal is approximately 95-125 mL/min for young adults, decreasing with age.

Q4: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: Less accurate in very obese, very thin, or elderly patients, and those with rapidly changing kidney function.

Q5: Should I use actual or ideal body weight?
A: For obese patients, some protocols recommend using adjusted body weight or ideal body weight.