Determination of reference ranges for creatinine and uremia in children aged 1 to 5 years

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Résumé

Introduction: In children, defining reference ranges is of paramount importance because normal values extrapolated from adult data can lead to misinterpretation. The objective of the study was to determine the reference ranges for creatinine and urea levels in children aged 1 to 5 years at the Charles de Gaulle Pediatric University Hospital Center.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from January 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025. Creatinine levels were measured using the compensated Jaffé method and urea levels using an enzymatic method. Reference ranges were determined using an indirect method, in accordance with the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.
Results: A total of 160 children were included. Creatinine and urea data did not follow a normal distribution (Shapiro-Wilk normality test: 0.86 (p = 0.0) and 0.896 (p = 0.0), respectively). A positive correlation was found between age and uremia (p = 0.0210), justifying the stratification of reference intervals by age group. Stratification of reference ranges by gender was not justified, as the analysis showed no significant differences. Thus, the calculated reference range for creatinine was 17.58–55.39 µmol/L. As for uremia, the values according to age group were as follows: [1, 2] years 1.3–6.4 mmol/L; [2, 3] years 1.7–7.0 mmol/L; [3, 4] years 1.4–6.3 mmol/L; and [4, 5] years 2.0–6.7 mmol/L.
Conclusion: This study established reference ranges for creatinine and urea levels in children aged 1 to 5 years. The results reveal local specificities, confirming the importance of using standards specific to our context to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Mots-clés

Reference ranges, Creatinine levels, Uremia, CHUP-CDG, Burkina Faso.