title: Estimation of the glomerular filtration rate in children: which algorithm should be used?
abstract: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children can be estimated by the formula GFR=k x BH/Pcr (where BH is body height in centimetres and Pcr is the plasma creatinine concentration in micromoles per litre). For k, several values have been reported: k=38 (Counahan), k=40 (Morris) and k=48.7 (Schwartz). In this study the predictive performance of these formulae was compared with that of newly developed formulae. GFR measurements based on inulin concentration time curves were divided into an index (n=58) and a validation data set (n=48). In the index data set a value for k was derived by application of nonlinear mixed-effect modelling. This approach was also used to develop a formula that better explained the relationship between patient factors and GFR. Bias and precision of all formulae were calculated for the validation data set. In the index data set a value of 41.2 was found for k, which was close to the value k=40 (Morris). Both formulae estimated GFR well (bias <5%; precision 25%). Further modelling of the relationship between patient factors and GFR did not improve the predictive performance. In our hospital GFR was best estimated by the formula with k=40 and k=41.2. It is recommended that the optimal value for k be assessed locally.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. l.vanrossum@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Lyonne K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: van Rossum
authors.forename: Ron A A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mathot
authors.forename: Karlien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cransberg
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zietse
authors.forename: Arnold G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Vulto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007444:Inulin / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007444:Inulin; D003404:Creatinine