Measurement of glomerular filtration rate in homozygous sickle cell disease: A comparison of 51Cr-EDTA clearance, creatinine clearance, serum creatinine and β2 microglobulin

Abstract

Glomerular filtration rates (GFR) were measured with 51Cr-EDTA in 38 patients (aged 40-75 years) with homozygous sickle cell disease and compared with serum β2 microglobulin concentrations in 38 patients and with creatinine clearance in 21 patients. GFR estimated with 51Cr-EDTA was closely correlated with single serum creatinine measurements and the inverse of serum β2 microglobulin. Creatinine clearance was also found to be correlated, but values were, on average, 32% below those obtained by the 51Cr-EDTA method, and this difference was significant. It is concluded that measurements of β2 microglobulin, single serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance are valuable indicators of GFR in homozygous sickle cell disease. Measurement of β2 microglobulin was a useful and reliable method of estimating GFR from single plasma measurements and is therefore a useful means of screening the population.