A Simple Method for Accurate Assessment of the Glomerular Filtration Rate in Children

Abstract

In 30 children with all degrees of reduced renal function, the total plasma clearance of [⁵¹Cr]EDTA (Cl) determined after an intravenous bolus injection was compared to the [⁵¹Cr]EDTA plasma clearance calculated from the final slope of the plasma curve (Cl₁), from the final slope and the first part of the plasma curve (Cl₂), and from the first part of the plasma curve (Cl₃). The determination of Cl₃, which demands the drawing of five blood samples within the first two hours after the injection, was found to be the most accurate one of the three simplified single injection methods for assessment of the glomerular filtration rate. The short duration is also of importance for the applicability of the method.

Key Words:

• [⁵¹Cr]EDTA
• glomerular filtration rate
• kidneys
• radioisotopes
• total plasma clearance
• tracer kinetics