A reciprocal graph to plot the reciprocal serum creatinine over time

In patients who have a linear decline in renal function over time, plotting the reciprocal serum creatinine versus time has been found to be useful in monitoring renal disease progression and predicting the start of dialysis. Unfortunately, producing such plots is cumbersome because of the inherent difficulties of plotting a reciprocal number on standard graph paper. This technical note presents a graph in which the y-axis is represented as a rec iprocal axis. In this manner, one is able to directly plot the serum creati nine over time and must not rely on plotting the reciprocal value. This app roach may make the plotting of such data easier for the nephrologist and ma ke this clinical tool more useful. (C) 1999 by the National Kidney Foundati on, Inc.