Inulin as Measure of Extracellular Space Significance of Extrarenal Excretion and Urinary Dead Space

Abstract

The total plasma clearance and the renal clearance of inulin were measured in 60 patients after three to five hours of inulin infusion. The total plasma clearance was on average 18 ml/minute higher than the renal clearance. The urinary recovery of inulin was significantly correlated to the ratio plasma clearance/renal clearance. A correlation was found between diuresis and the extracellular fluid volume.

Key Words:

• Extracellular space
• extrarenal clearance: inulin
• renal clearance
• renal function