Glomerular filtration rate

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the volume of fluid filtered from the renal (kidney) glomerular capillaries into the Bowman's capsule per unit time.^[1] Clinically, this is often measured to determine renal function. Compare to filtration fraction.

Additional recommended knowledge

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Measurement

There are several different techniques used to calculate or estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR or eGFR).

Measurement using inulin

The GFR can be determined by injecting inulin (not insulin) into the plasma. Since inulin is neither reabsorbed nor secreted by the kidney after glomerular filtration, its rate of excretion is directly proportional to the rate of filtration of water and solutes across the glomerular filter.

Estimation using creatinine clearance

In clinical practice, however, creatinine clearance is used to measure GFR. Creatinine is an endogenous molecule, synthesized in the body, which is freely filtered by the glomerulus (but also secreted by the renal tubules in very small amounts). Creatinine clearance is therefore a close approximation of the GFR. However, the approximation of the GFR calculation is best measured by the evaluation and visualization of the frequency and duration of urination. The GFR is typically recorded in units of volume per time, e.g. milliliters per minute (ml/min).

Example: A person has a plasma creatinine concentration of 0.01 mg/ml and in 1 hour he excretes 75 mg of creatinine in the urine. The GFR is calculated as M/P (where M is the mass of creatinine excreted per unit time and P is the plasma concentration of creatinine).

Estimation using Cockcroft-Gault formula

The Cockcroft-Gault formula may be used to calculate an Estimated Creatinine Clearance, which in turn estimates GFR:^[2]

Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula

The most commonly used formula is the "4-variable MDRD" which estimates GFR using four variables: serum creatinine, age, race, and gender.^[3] The original MDRD used six variables with the additional variables being the blood urea nitrogen and albumin levels.^[4] The equations have been validated in patients with chronic kidney disease; however both versions underestimate the GFR in healthy patients with GFRs over 60 mL/min.^[5][6] The equations have not been validated in acute renal failure.

Calculation using Starling equation

It is also theoretically possible to calculate GFR using the Starling equation.^[7]

J_v = K_f([P_c − P_i] − σ[π_c − π_i])

The equation is used both in a general sense for all capillary flow, and in a specific sense for the glomerulus:

Note that ([P_c − P_i] − σ[π_c − π_i]) is the net driving force, and therefore the net filtration is proportional to the net driving force.

In practice, it is not possible to identify the needed values for this equation, but the equation is still useful for understanding the factors which affect GFR, and providing a theoretical underpinning for the above calculations.

Normal ranges

The normal ranges of GFR, adjusted for body surface area, are:^[8]

• Males: 70 ± 14 mL/min/m²
• Females: 60 ± 10 mL/min/m²

GFR can increase due to hypoproteinemia because of the reduction in plasma oncotic pressure. GFR can also increase due to constriction of the efferent arteriole but decreases due to constriction of the afferent arteriole.

See also

• Renal failure
• Dialysis
• Tubuloglomerular feedback
• filtration fraction

References

1. ^ Physiology at MCG 7/7ch04/7ch04p11 - "Glomerular Filtration Rate"
2. ^ GFR Calculator at cato.at - Cockcroft-Gault - GFR calculation (Cockcroft-Gault formula)
3. ^ (2002) "K/DOQI clinical practice guidelines for chronic kidney disease: evaluation, classification, and stratification". Am. J. Kidney Dis. 39 (2 Suppl 1): S1–266. PMID 11904577.
4. ^ Levey AS, Bosch JP, Lewis JB, Greene T, Rogers N, Roth D (1999). "A more accurate method to estimate glomerular filtration rate from serum creatinine: a new prediction equation. Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study Group". Ann. Intern. Med. 130 (6): 461–70. PMID 10075613.
5. ^ Rule AD, Larson TS, Bergstralh EJ, Slezak JM, Jacobsen SJ, Cosio FG (2004). "Using serum creatinine to estimate glomerular filtration rate: accuracy in good health and in chronic kidney disease". Ann. Intern. Med. 141 (12): 929–37. PMID 15611490.
6. ^ Levey AS, Coresh J, Greene T, et al (2006). "Using standardized serum creatinine values in the modification of diet in renal disease study equation for estimating glomerular filtration rate". Ann. Intern. Med. 145 (4): 247–54. PMID 16908915.
7. ^ Physiology at MCG 7/7ch04/7ch04p12 - "Forces Driving the Glomerular Filtration Rate":
8. ^ Creatinine clearance at merck.com - The normal ranges of GFR.