Creatinine-based equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate in Japanese children aged between 2 and 11 years old with chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Background

Renal inulin clearance is the gold standard for glomerular filtration rate (GFR), but is compromised by problems of collecting urine samples in children, especially those <6 years of age or with a bladder dysfunction. Therefore, we should utilize the serum creatinine (Cr)-based estimated GFR (eGFR), measuring serum Cr by enzymatic method. The updated Schwartz formulae were reported by enzymatic Cr instead of by the Jaffe method in American children aged 1–16 years old. We believe it would be better to determine serum Cr-based eGFR by the enzymatic method in Japanese children for evaluation of renal function.

Methods

Serum Cr-based eGFR was determined by measuring inulin clearance and serum Cr level in 76 pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (49 males and 27 females) aged 2–11 years with no underlying disease that would affect renal function.

Results

We showed the inulin clearance by expression of the body length/serum Cr ratio in pediatric CKD patients, which resulted in the equation: ${\text{inulin}}\;{\text{GFR}} = 0. 3 4 2 \times {\text{body length}}\;({\text{cm}})/{\text{serum}}\;{\text{Cr}}\;({\text{mg}}/{\text{dL}}) \pm 2. 7 5$. Additionally, we suggest the following serum Cr-based eGFR formula passing through the origin: ${\text{eGFR}}\; ( {\text{mL}}/{ \hbox{min} }/ 1. 7 3 \,{\text{m}}^{ 2} )= 0. 3 5 \times {\text{body}}\;{\text{length}}\; ( {\text{cm)/serum}}\;{\text{Cr}}\; ( {\text{mg}}/{\text{dL)}}$, because it is simple and easy to remember, thus making it clinically useful.

Conclusion

The new eGFR formula derived from body length and serum Cr level is applicable for clinical screening of renal function in Asian as well as Japanese children aged between 2 and 11 years old.