RESUMEN
Glomerular filtration rate [GFR] is the best index of renal function and is frequently assessed by corrected creatinine clearance [CCL[cr]]. The limitations of CCL[cr] have inspired researchers to derive easy formulas to estimate GFR, with Cockcroft-Gault [C-G] and the modification of diet in renal disease [MDRD] being the most widely used. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of these equations by finding the relation between CCL[cr] and estimated GFR [eGFR] by C-G, modified C-G and MDRD equations. From 2007 to 2011, 158 subjects were analysed for serum creatinine and CCL[cr] at Bowsher Polyclinic, Muscat, Oman. The C-G equation was used to obtain eGFR[C-G] which was adjusted to body surface area [BSA] to obtain eGFR[mC-G], and the MDRD equation was used to obtain eGFR[MDRD]. The eGFR[MDRD], eGFR[mC-G] and eGFR[C-G] were then compared to CCL[cr]. The eGFR[MDRD], eGFR[mC-G] and eGFR[C-G] significantly correlated with CCL[cr], with a slightly stronger correlation with eGFR[MDRD] [r = 0.701, 0.658 and 0.605, respectively]. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the diagnostic accuracy of eGFR[MDRD] for diagnosing chronic kidney disease [CKD] was higher than that of eGFR[mC-G], which in turn was higher than that of eGFR[C-G] [area under the curve was 0.846, 0.831, and 0.791; cut-off limits were 61.9, 58.3 and 59.5, respectively]. C-G and MDRD equations can be an alternative to the CCL[cr] test for assessing GFR, thus avoiding the need for the cumbersome and expensive GFR test. The MDRD formula had greater validity than the C-G equation and the C-G equation validity was improved by an adjustment to BSA
RESUMEN
To study serum total magnesium [Mg] levels in type 2 diabetic Omani patients, and to find the relation between Mg levels and glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c], body mass index [BMI], and age of the patient. This work was carried out at the Bousher Polyclinic, Muscat, Oman from January to October 2008. We compared 34 type 2 diabetic patients with non-diabetic subjects as regards serum total Mg. We assessed diabetic patients in terms of age, gender, HbA1c, BMI, and their medications. Subjects at risk for apparent causes of hypomagnesemia or hypermagnesemia were excluded. The mean serum total Mg level was 0.92 mmol/L [SD 0.06] in the control subjects, and 0.81 mmol/L [SD 0.08] in the diabetic group, and although almost all our diabetic patients have no hypomagnesemia, their levels of serum total Mg were significantly reduced compared with control subjects. T-test shows that our diabetics have significantly lower total Mg levels with a difference of 0.12 mmol/L [p=0.000] irrespective of age and gender. The Mg levels are positively correlated with age, but no correlation with HbA1c and BMI. Although ionized and intracellular Mg levels are more reliable than total serum Mg in assessing Mg deficiency, low total serum levels of Mg are frequently seen in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Further studies on the role of Mg supplementation in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications and similar studies in type 1 diabetes mellitus are recommended