Renal clearance ratio

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Diagram showing the basic physiologic mechanisms of the kidney

The renal clearance ratio or fractional excretion is a relative measure of the speed at which a constituent of urine passes through the kidneys.[1][2] It is defined by following equation:

  • X is the analyte substance
  • Cx is the
    renal plasma clearance
    of X
  • Cin is the renal plasma clearance of inulin.

Creatinine is sometimes used instead of inulin as the reference substance; for example, the calcium-creatinine clearance ratio is used in an attempt to distinguish between different causes of a high plasma calcium concentration.[3] It is easier to use creatinine rather than inulin as the comparitor as creatinine is produced by the body, whereas inulin has to be intravenously infused.

See also

References