Creatinine Clearance:
Original Schwartz Estimate

Estimate glomerular filtration rate (creatinine clearance) from serum creatinine, the patient's height, and a proportionality constant using the original Schwartz method.

The original Schwartz formula^1,2 is:

CrCl =	(k * Ht)
	Crserum

Height is measured in cm. Serum creatinine is measured in mg/dL. Measured creatinine should be in steady state. This formula tends to overestimate the actual creatinine clearance and should be used with caution. Estimates of glomerular filtration > 75 mL/min per 1.73 m² should not be reported as an exact number (National Kidney Disease Education Program recommendation).

This formula should not be used with serum creatinine measurements calibrated to reference measurements by isotope dilution mass spectroscopy (IDMS). See the Revised Schwartz Estimate.

Many medications should be adjusted for renal impairment when the CrCl falls below 50 mL/min.

1. Schwartz GJ, Gauthier B. J Pediatr 1985 Mar;106(3):522-6
2. Schwartz GJ, Feld LG, Langford DJ. J Pediatr 1984 Jun;104(6):849-54

Created: January 7, 2000
Revised: October 14, 2010