This tool is for Medical Professionals

Professional Reference tools are designed for health professionals to use. They are written by UK doctors and based on research evidence, UK and European Guidelines, so you may find the language more technical than the condition leaflets.

The estimated glomerular filtration rate is used to indicate kidney function. This calculator can only be used for assessing chronic kidney disease and not acute kidney injury in adults.
Go to the eGFR calculator.

Notes

Use the eGFR value calculated by your local laboratory in preference to the above as it is likely to be more accurate (as it may adjust for variations in creatinine measurements). 

  • Serum creatinine is correlated with muscle mass and therefore estimation of GFR using prediction equations in people with extremes of muscle mass is subject to inaccuracy. In those with increased muscle mass, GFR will be under estimated and in those with reduced muscle mass GFR will be over estimated.
  • This equation is accurate in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but it significantly underestimates GFR in healthy persons (probably due to the exclusion of healthy persons from the study used to develop this equation).[1] Do not over-interpret slightly low values.
  • Stages 1 or 2 CKD should not be diagnosed on GFR alone - unless there are urinalysis, structural abnormalities or genetic factors to indicate renal disease.
  • These calculations assume that the creatinine levels are relatively stable (over a few days) and not rapidly changing.
  • The MDRD equation is not valid for children - use the SCHWARTZ equation.

Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease

Use the suffix (p) to denote the presence of proteinuria when staging chronic kidney disease (CKD).
StageGlomerular Filtration Rate
Values are normalised to an average surface area (size) of 1.73 m2
DescriptionManagement
I90+Normal renal function (but urinalysis, structural abnormalities or genetic factors indicate renal disease).Observation and control of blood pressure.
II60-89Mildly reduced renal function
(Stage 2 CKD should not be diagnosed on GFR alone - but urinalysis, structural abnormalities or genetic factors indicate renal disease.)
Observation, control of blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors.
IIIa45-59Moderate decrease in renal function, with or without other evidence of kidney damage.Observation, control of blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors.
IIIb30-44Moderate decrease in renal function, with or without other evidence of kidney damage.Observation, control of blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors.
IV15-29Severely reduced renal function.Planning for end-stage kidney disease.
V<15Very severe (end-stage) kidney disease.Transplant or dialysis.

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Further reading and references

  1. Rule AD, Larson TS, Bergstralh EJ, et al; Using serum creatinine to estimate glomerular filtration rate: accuracy in good health and in chronic kidney disease. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Dec 21;141(12):929-37.

Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.

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