How to measure renal function in clinical practice: Estimated glomerular filtration rate in general practice

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7574.918-a

BMJ 2006;333:918 (28 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7574.918-a

Letter

How to measure renal function in clinical practice

Estimated glomerular filtration rate in general practice

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—The introduction of routine reporting of estimatedglomerular filtration rate with every serum creatinine requestedseems to have led to three outcomes in general practice: worriedpatients, increased workload, and confused clinicians.¹

Although the national service framework for renal services doesnot say that estimated glomerular filtration rate should beused as a screening tool for renal disease among unselectedpatients, but rather should be used to give further informationabout patients already known to be at risk of renal disease,this is effectively what has happened. In common with otherdoctors, general practitioners request baseline biochemistryin situations ranging from investigation of symptoms, to "work-up"of known disease, to monitoring of long term illness, and soon. Of the 30 estimated glomerular filtration rates in my practicelablinks inbox recently that originated from unselected patientsof varying health, social class, and ethnic origin, 18 wereless than . . . [Full text of this article]

Jo Richardson, general practitioner

London E14 3BQ jo.richardson@GP-F84710.nhs.uk

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