What is glomerular filtration rate?

How to calculate glomerular filtration rate?

There is a mathematical formula to calculate the glomerular filtration rate. This formula compares an individual's age, sex, race, and size with his/her serum creatinine levels. If your GRF is less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m², then it may be indicative of kidney disease. The lower this number, the worse is the functioning of the kidney. This number is, however, an approximate figure. It may not necessarily be the ideal measure against which to compare the kidney health of people, especially the very old, the very young, the obese, and amputees.

You can get an estimation of your GRF by using the formula GRF = 140 minus your age. The GRF for a fit and healthy 40-year-old person, for example, should be approximately 100 mL/min. Also remember to keep in mind that a person's GRF is affected by factors such as his/her gender, age, and body size. There might be some variations found even in people with similar characteristics. There are a number of formulae that can help you figure out your GRF. The most common formulas are the MDRD formula and the Cockcroft and Gault formula. The Cockcroft and Gault equation, for example, accounts for sex, age as well as muscle mass.

Submitted by N S on August 14, 2013 at 03:57

What is the normal glomerular filtration rate?

With the help of a glomerular filtration rate test, doctors are able to figure out how well your kidneys are functioning. Your doctor would order this test if there is indication that there is a problem your kidneys. This test gives an estimate of the amount of blood that passes per minute through the kidney's filters. The normal glomerular filtration rate could range anything from 90 to 140 mL/min. The normal glomerular filtration rate value ranges might vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory. It is important to check with your health care provide about what your particular test results mean.

If your glomerular filtration rate levels go below 60 mL/min for three consecutive months, it could be that you are suffering from chronic kidney disease. In case the GRF result is below 15 mL/min, then it could be an indication of kidney failure. In the elderly and children, the GRF levels are usually lower.

GRF results are usually accurate and based on these results doctors are able to figure out how fast your kidneys are failing. There are different formulas available to measure GRF. To figure out the normal glomerular filtration rate, the calculator used may take into consideration a few/all of the following factors: creatinine measurement, age, height, gender, weight, and race.

Submitted by N S on June 3, 2013 at 11:59

What is the average glomerular filtration rate?

GRF is the total of all the filtration rates of the filtering units that make up a person's kidneys. So, what is the average glomerular filtration rate?

The average glomerular filtration rate range is approximately 75 to 115 ml/minute in the case of women, and 85 to 125 ml/minute in the case of men. This rate decreases as a person gets older. The average glomerular filtration rate is affected by some other factors such as body size and gender. In the case of people with similar characteristics, there are chances of there being considerable variation in the GRF.

The glomerular filtration rate helps doctors measure how well your kidney is functioning. It gives your doctor an idea of the damage done to your kidneys and the stage the kidney disease has reached. GRF can be calculated with the help of a number of formulas. You can subtract your age from 140 to get an estimate of what the normal value should be. So, for example, in a healthy 40-year-old, the GRF should be around 100 ml/min. The GRF can be calculated with the help of a number of formulas such as the MDRD and Cockcroft and Gault formula. There are also automatic calculators that can help you calculate GRF.

Submitted by N S on May 12, 2013 at 11:28

How does one increase their glomerular filtration rate?

GFR is a test that helps measure the level at which an individual's kidney is functioning. It is calculated on the basis of factors such as age, gender, race, and blood creatinine. Normal GFR values are between 90 to 120 ml/min. A GRF below 60 ml/min could mean that some kidney damage has occurred.

Here are some tips to increase your glomerular filtration rate:

• Try drinking isotonic fluid. Drinking such fluids causes your blood volume to increase and thus your blood pressure as well. Due to this, more fluid is pushed into your glomerulus.
• Make sure you avoid taking anti-cholinergic drugs. Such drugs cause water retention in your bladder.
• Make sure you drink plenty of water.
• Avoid taking drugs that may block the production of prostaglandin, a hormone that helps dilate the entrance of fluids in your glomerulus, thus impeding the rate of filtration.
• Check with your doctor if there is any medication you can take to improve your glomerular filtration rate.

Have a serious chat with your nephrologist and find out if a lifestyle change is going to help. It is important that you focus on consuming a proper diet and also keeping your diabetes/BP under control. Cut out on salt intake and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and a little lean meat. Check with your dietician for a kidney friendly diet plan.

Submitted by N S on May 8, 2013 at 01:04

Glomerular filtration rate is an expression of the quantity of glomerular filtrate formed each minute in the nephrons of both kidneys, usually measured by the rate of clearance of creatinine. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a test used to check the functioning levels of the kidneys. Specifically, it estimates how much blood passes through the glomeruli (tiny filters) in the kidneys. GFR also tells you how much kidney function you have.

The sample for the test is the blood drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow. The site is first cleaned with an antiseptic and the physician then wraps an elastic band around the upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the vein swell with blood. He then inserts a needle into the vein which then collects blood into an airtight vial attached to the needle.

The blood sample is sent to a lab for testing the creatinine levels. Creatinine is a metabolite from muscle. The GFR test measures how well your kidneys are filtering creatinine. It is normally removed by the kidneys, but when the kidney fails to function normally, the creatinine level rises. Creatinine is affected by many factors and varies between patients due to differences in age, sex and muscle mass. So, your doctor calculates GFR results taking into consideration your age, race, gender, and other related factors. With a reduction in the GFR, the elimination of waste products such as urea and creatinine is impaired.

The test is recommended, especially for people with chronic kidney diseases. It is also recommended for people who are at risk of:

• Diabetes
• Family history of kidney disease
• Urinary tract infections
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure.

Measurement of the GFR is necessary to define the exact level of renal function. The normal results range from 100-140 mls/min. If the result is 30mls/min, it indicates severe Kidney Failure. GFR levels decreases with age, hence older people will have lower normal GFR levels. So your GFR will naturally decrease by 0.5-1ml/min as a part of the normal ageing process. GFR can increase during pregnancy.

GFR results indicate how much damage has been done to the kidneys and determine your stage of kidney disease. It is better if the kidney disease is detected early as the chances of slowing the progression of the disease and restoring the kidney functions are better. An improvement in the GFR may indicate that the kidneys are recovering some of their function. By monitoring the trends and changes in the GFR over a period of time, the course of your disease can be observed

Submitted by N S on May 13, 2010 at 08:01