About GFR
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a test used to check how well the kidneys are functioning. It estimates the amount of blood filtered per minute by the glomeruli, which are tiny structures in the kidneys. The GFR provides a calculation that indicates kidney function levels, which is critical for diagnosing stages of kidney disease.
Reference Values
Optimal Range
≥ 90 mL/min/1.73m²
Elite Value
125 mL/min/1.73m²
Health Implications
{'high': 'Elevated levels may indicate a risk for dehydration or excessively high dietary protein intake, potentially impacting kidney function in the long term.', 'low': 'Low levels may be associated with chronic kidney disease or acute kidney injury, leading to reduced filtration of toxins and fluid imbalances in the body.'}
Symptoms
High
May include symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, or nausea depending on the underlying cause.
Low
Can include symptoms like dizziness, weakness, swelling in the limbs, or confusion due to possible kidney issues.
Lifestyle Factors
Specimen Type
Testing Methods
Also Known As
Scientific Sources
- Levey, A. S., & Inker, L. A. (2019). GFR as the "Gold Standard": Estimated, Measured, and True. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 74(2), 223-225.
- Inker, L. A., Schmid, C. H., Tighiouart, H., Eckfeldt, J. H., Feldman, H. I., Greene, T., ... & Levey, A. S. (2019). Estimating glomerular filtration rate from serum creatinine and cystatin C. New England Journal of Medicine, 367(1), 20-29.
- Levey, A. S., Stevens, L. A., Schmid, C. H., Zhang, Y. L., Castro, A. F., Feldman, H. I., ... & Coresh, J. (2019). A new equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate. Annals of Internal Medicine, 150(9), 604-612.
- National Kidney Foundation. (2021). KDIGO 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Blood Pressure in Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney International Supplements, 11(1), 1-87.
- Levey, A. S., & Coresh, J. (2020). Chronic kidney disease. The Lancet, 379(9811), 165-180.