title: Measurement of glomerular filtration rate in adults: accuracy of five single-sample plasma clearance methods.
abstract: After an intravenous injection of a tracer that is removed from the body solely by filtration in the kidneys, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be determined from its plasma clearance. The method requires a great number of blood samples but collection of urine is not needed. In the present investigation the total plasma clearance of 51Cr-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetra-acetate) was assessed from 13 blood samples taken 5-300 min post-injection in 44 adult patients with GFR greater than 15 ml min-1. In 34 of these patients the plasma clearance of 99Tcm-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepenta-acetate) was determined simultaneously. Using these clearance values as reference the accuracy of six simplified methods were studied: five single-sample methods and one five-sample method. The standard error of estimate (SEE) of the single-sample methods ranged from 4.2 to 7.5 ml min-1 using EDTA, and from 3.8 to 6.3 ml min-1 using DTPA. SEE of the five-samples method was 3.0 ml min-1 (EDTA) and 3.1 ml min-1 (DTPA). The single-sample methods given by Christensen & Groth (1986) and by Tauxe (1986) are recommended for daily use, as SEE was small even at low GFR values. In patients with GFR less than 80 ml min-1, in whom a highly accurate determination is needed, a multiple samples method is recommended, e.g., Brøchner-Mortensen (1972).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rehling
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabøl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D004369:Pentetic Acid; D004492:Edetic Acid