Estimated GFR – Laboratorio de Función Renal

Laboratorio de Función Renal > Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) > Estimated GFR

Estimation of renal function

In clinical practice, renal function is frequently estimated by indirect methods using endogenous markers such as serum creatinine, which is included in mathematical algorithms along with other variables such as age, weight , height or sex. In the last 70 years, more than 40 formulas based on creatinine have been published. However, none of them have shown acceptable accuracy and precisión in reflecting renal function. The average error is about ±30% of real renal function. This is unacceptable in certain clinical situations in which a reliable evaluation of renal function is important.

Figura 1: (A) Relación curvilínea e inversa entre la creatinina sérica y la función renal medida por el aclaramiento plasmático de iohexol. Para un mismo valor de creatinina (1.00 mg/dL), la función renal medida puede variar entre aproximadamente 35 y 95 mL/min; (B) Relación entre la estimación de la función renal por la fórmula CKD-EPI basada en creatinina y la función renal medida por el aclaramiento plasmático de iohexol. Para un mismo valor de GFR de 30 ml/min, la función renal estimada puede variar entre 19 y 41 mL/min. Similarmente, para un valor de GFR de 60 ml/min, la función renal estimada puede variar entre 49 y 132 mL/min y para un valor de GFR de 90 ml/min, la función renal estimada puede variar entre 72 y 114 mL/min. — (Left) Curvilinear and inverse relationship between serum creatinine and renal function measured by the plasma clearance of iohexol. For the same creatinine value (1.00 mg / dL), measured renal function can range between 35 and 95 mL/min; (Right) Relationship between the estimation of renal function by creatinine-based CKD-EPI formula and renal function measured by the plasma clearance of iohexol. For the same GFR value of 30 ml/min, estimated renal function can range between 19 and 41 mL/min. Similarly, for a GFR value of 60 ml/min, estimated renal function may range between 49 and 132 mL/min and for a GFR value of 90 mL/min, estimated renal function may range between 72 and 114 mL/min.

Since 2000 and trying to overcome the error of creatinine-based formulas, more than 20 equations have been developed based on a new renal function marker: cystatin-C. However, the error of formulas base don cystatin-C remains as large as that observed with creatinine-based equations. Thus, no real progresses has been shown in eGFR in the last 70 years.