Measuring filtration function in clinical practice

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The global prevalence of chronic kidney disease is increasing, as are its complications. Central to the diagnosis, evaluation and management of chronic kidney disease is the estimation of glomerular filtration rate. This article summarizes the various equations used to estimate filtration function and the performance of each in clinical practice. RECENT FINDINGS: During the past year the prediction equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate, especially the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation, continued to receive much interest. Many studies have compared the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation and the Cockcroft-Gault equation. The performance of these equations in various patient populations, such as patients with advanced heart failure, diabetic patients, renal transplantation patients, and the healthy general population, has been extensively studied. Overall, the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation has had an acceptable validity and has outperformed the Cockcroft-Gault equation in the various populations, but with some limitations that the physician should account for in clinical practice. SUMMARY: The use of the prediction equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate, especially the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation, should be implemented more frequently in clinical practice. An ever increasing number of studies has validated its use in different patient populations.