WHAT IS THE GFR?
The kidneys have lots of functions, but the most important is clearing waste products from the bloodstream. This is sometimes called “excretory kidney function”. Excretory kidney function is measured as the “glomerular filtration rate”, or “GFR” The GFR is a measure of the rate at which blood is filtered by the kidneys, and is measured in millilitres per minute (ml/min).
HOW IS CREATININE USED TO MEASURE GFR
For day to day use, excretory kidney function is measured by measuring the concentration of a substance called creatinine in the blood. This test is called the ‘serum creatinine’ or ‘plasma creatinine’. High creatinine levels indicate poor excretory kidney function.
WHAT IS NORMAL EGFR?
In healthy young adults, a normal GFR is around 100 ml/min/1.73 m2. Reduced GFR is common in older people – because ageing can affect the kidneys, just like it affects the skin, the bones, and other organs, even if they haven’t been damaged by one of the recognized causes of kidney damage. This means that some doctors think that reduced GFR in elderly people is ‘normal’ and can safely be ignored. However, reduced GFR may cause just the same problems in older people as it does in younger people.
WHAT IS CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD)?
“Chronic kidney disease” means any type of kidney disease that is long-lasting. Chronic kidney disease is often called “CKD” for short.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR KIDNEY FUNCTION