Renal Data Handling Exercise (18/11/13 prac)

· In place of creatinine, inulin can be used to determine glomerular filtration rate. It is more accurate than creatinine because creatinine is secreted (a small amount) whereas inulin is exogenous and so is completely cleared. However, a person has to be fully perfused with it. Still, given that it is fully excreted, the rate at which glomerular filtration occurs is equivalent to the clearance of inulin.

· Para-amino hippuric acid (PAH) is freely filtered by the kidneys and not reabsorbed. Even the plasma that isn’t filtered is cleared of PAH because the kidneys are so effective at secreting it as it passes along the peritubular capillaries. So, given that ALL the plasma entering the kidneys is cleared of PAH, the rate at which plasma is flowing through the kidneys is equivalent to the clearance of PAH.

o If the haematocrit is known (the percentage of whole blood that is cells), the renal blood flow can be calculated.

Calculating the renal function is significant in assessing the presence and/or severity of kidney damage, be that due to infection, diabetic nephropathy, or any other cause.

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Points not covered in the Aspects of Renal Physiology lecture.