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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Physiology Lab Demonstration: Glomerular Filtration Rate in a Rat
Published on: July 26, 2015
A comparison of prediction equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate in pregnancy
Sofia B Ahmed1, Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, Norman K Hollenberg
1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. sofia.ahmed@calgaryhealthregion.ca
Objective:
To compare existing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) prediction equations with the gold standard, inulin clearance, in pregnancy.
Methods:
Five equations were assessed for precision, bias, and accuracy in prediction of true GFR, measured by inulin clearance in 12 healthy, pregnant women during the second (T2) and third (T3) trimesters and in postpartum (PP).
Results:
Precision was greatest with 24-hour creatinine clearance estimation of GFR (R(2) = 13% (T2), R(2) = 26% (T3)). Other than 100/SCr, all equations underestimated true GFR. 30% accuracy was greatest in 100/SCr (83% (T2), 92% (T3)).
Conclusions:
Current GFR prediction formulae do not appear to be sufficient for estimating GFR in the gravid state.
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