ASSESSMENT OF GLOMERULAR-FILTRATION RATE IN CHILDREN

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 35  (5) , 437-447
Abstract
Five different methods of assessment of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were compared in 500 children older than 1 yr of age. Results of each method were compared with standard inulin clearance values. An evaluation of glomerular function may be inferred from plasma creatinine levels; the validity of this inference is limited because of the wide range of normal values: creatinine clearance values calculated over 3 h significantly overestimate inulin clearance values. Clearance values, derived from plasma creatinine concentration and height show a poor correlation with traditionally calculated inulin clearances. Clearance values, calculated as the sum of twice the creatinine clearance and once the urea clearance divided by 3, better predict inulin clearance than either C-creatinine or C-urea alone. Inulin clearance values, calculated by dividing the quantity of inulin perfused by its plasma concentration once it has become stable, differ significantly from the values obtained by the standard inulin clearance. Of all the methods studied, none was an ideal alternative to the traditional inulin clearance when a precise assessment of GFR is warranted. Apparently, in most clinical conditions, derived clearance values do not have significant advantages over the simple determination of plasma creatinine, a valuable but not infallible index of glomerular function.