Effect of trimethoprim on serum creatinine in healthy and chronic renal failure volunteers.

The effect of trimethoprim (TMP) on serum creatinine concentration (SCr) was studied in 10 healthy (H) subjects and nine subjects with chronic renal failure (CRF). Each volunteer was given TMP 100 mg perorally every 12 h for 10 days followed by a 7-day washout period. SCr was measured colorimetrically immediately before the study (baseline), on day 10 of TMP, and 7 days after TMP had been discontinued. SCr increased an average of 14.8% from baseline during TMP administration in the H volunteers, but this increase was not statistically significant. During TMP administration to the CRF volunteers, a pronounced elevation (34.6%) of mean SCr from baseline was observed (p less than 0.05). SCr returned to baseline values in both groups following the 7-day washout period. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that TMP competitively inhibits the renal tubular secretion of creatinine.