Assessment of calculated glomerular filtration rate using percutaneous nephrostomy creatinine clearance

Abstract

Background: Radionuclide scintigraphy is considered the most widely used method for estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in clinical use. The present study was conducted to assess calculated glomerular filtration rate (cGFR) using percutaneous nephrostomy creatinine clearance and comparing it with measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) calculated by radionuclide scintigraphy. Materials & Methods: 40 cases of kidney disease of both genders were included. The mGFR and cGFR estimation was done after complete stabilization of the patient and resolution of the indication for which PCN was inserted and after stabilization of PCN output. The DTPA/EC scan was performed by Gates method. Results: Out of 40 patients, males were 22 and females were 18. mGFR (mean) was 11.4 ml/min, cGFR (mean) was 7.42 ml/min, highest calculated GFR was 8.74 ml/min, mGFR 30 was seen in 5 and mGFR could not calculated in 1 patient. A strong overall correlation was found between the two methods of GFR estimation. Conclusion: GFR calculated by PCN creatinine clearance can be used to estimate kidney function when radionuclide scan is not available. However, further studies are required due to small sample size of our study.