The need for using an enzymatic colorimetric assay in creatinine determination of peritoneal dialysis solutions

The fate of the peritoneal membrane on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is usually evaluated through the modification of its permeability to various solutes as glucose, creatinine, and urea. Therefore, the accuracy of the methods used for measurements of creatinine is of great importance. A particular problem does exist for creatinine determination as it may be influenced by the presence of glucose. We studied a new enzymatic colorimetric method for creatinine determination in peritoneal dialysis solutions which contain high dextrose concentrations. Creatinine was measured in plasma, urine, and dialysate from 18 patients on CAPD and in pure dextrose solutions, with an enzymatic test (Boehringer Mannheim) and with Jaffe's reaction on two different analyzers: Astra (Beckman) and Eris (Merck). Creatinine results were similar with both assays (Jaffe's reaction and enzymatic test) when measured in blood and urine. However the Jaffe's reaction gave higher creatinine results than the enzymatic test (p less than 0.001), when assays were performed in peritoneal dialysis solutions and in pure glucose solutions. In addition, it appeared that other components of dialysis solutions, mainly calcium chloride, influenced unpredictably the results of creatinine with the Jaffe's reaction. We conclude that specific enzymatic test is a more accurate and reliable method to evaluate creatinine kinetics through the peritoneal membrane when determined in CAPD solutions.