Renal function assessment

Introduction

• Accurate clinical evaluation of renal function can be accomplished by a series of diagnostic procedures.
• Physical examination and a complete history of the patient are important in the diagnosis of renal failure, most signs are relatively non-specific. Important in differentiating acute from chronic disease.
• Examination of urine and blood samples is therefore essential in the diagnostic process.
• Normal urine production is the total effect of glomerular and tubular function.
• Function tests will be discussed under glomerular and tubular function although there is some overlap since disease in one unit of this closely linked system ultimately affects the other.
• This approach is a guide to the investigation of renal disease and, although examples of tests are quoted, the lists are by no means complete.
• At present there is no specific or repeatable test that can quantify the effects of renal ageing.
  

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

• Miyamoto K (2001) Clinical application of plasma clearance of iohexol on feline patients. JFMS 3 , 143-148.