Plasma urea and creatinine status in chronic alcoholics

Plasma urea and creatinine concentrations were estimated by Auto-Analyzer in 128 chronic alcoholics (103 males, 25 females; mean age +/- SD = 42.73 +/- 6.53; age range 20-60 years). Plasma levels of both urea (mean +/- SD = 3.46 +/- 1.31; normal range 2.0-6.5 mmol/l) and creatinine (mean +/- SD = 87.86 +/- 15.45; normal range 60-120 mumol/l) were found to be within normal limits. It is concluded from our observations that chronic ethanol ingestion per se is not nephrotoxic. The kidney seems to be the only vital organ generally spared in chronic alcoholics without advanced alcoholic liver disease or hepato-renal syndrome.