Significance of osmolal clearance in the assessment of renal function

ABSTRACT

In this study, we present evidence to show that if the osmolal clearance is used as a second parameter in addition to creatinine clearance, the differentiation between different renal disorders would then be possible. This is because the patency of the whole functional renal unit is reflected through the relationship of these two parameters. The study shows that if the two functional portions of the nephron are patent, then a linear relationship should exist between creatinine clearance and osmolal clearance. This relationship is disrupted when the function of one portion is impaired. In the meantime should the function of both portions is impaired, the linear relationship would then appear again. The investigation was carried out on 117 patients with different renal disorders. Normal relationship of these parameters were obtained from 33 healths subjects who showed no evidence of renal dysfunction or any other apparent disease. The mechanism and significance of these relationships are discussed