Preclinical models of the effect of acute renal ischemia on creatinine plasma levels

: The effect of temporary and complete renal artery clamping on the plasma concentrations of creatinine (Pcr) and morphologic alterations was studied in the remaining kidney of unilaterally nephrectomized rats. It was demonstrated that 20-minute ischaemia did not entail a significant increase in Pcr although histologic changes were already detectable in the kidney. Thirty-minute ischaemia was associated with appreciable histologic changes in the kidney even though the rise in Pcr was mild and transient. Forty-five and sixty-minute ischaemia was found to be associated with severe histologic changes and a distinct increase in Pcr. Seen from the perspective of transplantation requiring evaluation of the functional status of cadaverous donors, the experimental findings show that normal levels of Pcr do not exclude the possible presence of morphologic changes, and that even major histologic change may manifest themselves in an insignificant increase in Pcr.