estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)

Understanding how well a patient's Kidneys are functioning is crucial for Urologists to determine the degree of Renal Insufficiency, Stage of Chronic Kidney Disease, and the treatment that may be most effective for that patient.  To measure Kidney function, doctors keep track of the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR).  Inside the Kidney, the Glomerulus is the first section of the Nephron that conducts the first step in filtering the Blood.  Accordingly, GFR describes the volume flow rate of fluid that is filtered through the Glomerulus of the Kidneys and is measured in milliliters per minute (mL/min).  GFR can be measured accurately through laboratory analysis of a patient's blood sample.  However, to take blood samples regularly can become cumbersome and difficult, especially for patients that are quite sick.  Therefore, doctors will often calculate an estimated GFR (eGFR) instead by using a number of other measurements available from a urine sample instead.  

Click here to Calculate eGFR