title: A new equation to estimate the glomerular filtration rate in children, adolescents and young adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A new estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equation, designed for isotope dilution mass spectrometry-standardized serum creatinine (Scr), is presented for use in children, adolescent boys and girls and young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The new equation, eGFR = 107.3/(Scr/Q), is based on the concept of normalized Scr: Q is the normalization value and is considered as the Scr concentration for the average healthy child, adolescent or young adult of a specific height (L) and is modeled as a height-dependent polynomial of the fourth degree.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The well-known Schwartz equation [eGFR = kL/Scr, k = 0.413 (Schwartz) or k = 0.373 (Schwartz-Lyon)] for children between 1 and 14 years can be seen as a special case of the new equation for which the Q-polynomial is simplified to a linear equation: Q = 0.0035 × L (cm). The new eGFR equation has been validated in a data set of n = 750 children, adolescents and young adults aged 10-25, against the true GFR (inulin method), and outperforms the selected (but most used) creatinine-based eGFR equations for children, mainly in the healthy GFR region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new Q(height)-eGFR equation serves as an excellent screening tool for kidney disease in 1-25-year-old children, adolescents and young adults.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Research Facility Life Sciences, KU Leuven Kulak, Kortrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hoste
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubourg
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selistre
authors.forename: Vandrea Carla
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: De Souza
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ranchin
authors.forename: Aoumeur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadj-Aïssa
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cochat
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pottel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: adolescents; children; estimated glomerular filtration rate; inulin; young adults