Serum Creatine and Creatinine in Children and Adolescents

Kuhlbäck, B., Pasternack, A., Launiala, K. & Stenberg, M. Serum Creatine and Creatinine in Children and Adolescents. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. 22, 37-40, 1968. The creatine and creatinine concentration in the serum was studied in 229 children and adolescents aged 0-19 years. Almost normal adult values were recorded immediately after birth. At the age of half a year to 15 years the serum creatine level was high and the serum creatinine level was low. A steady decrease in serum creatine and increase in creatinine was observed. The ratio creatine/creatinine did not drop to under 1 until the age of 14-15 years. Completely normal adult values were only noted in those aged 16-20 years. The possible causes of these changes are discussed. The low serum creatinine concentration in children should be borne in mind on evaluating renal function and its possible changes in childhood.