Renal plasma clearance refers to the volume of blood plasma that is cleared of a substance per unit time by the kidneys. The kidney’s ability to clear substances from the blood is influenced by renal blood flow, the filtration rate of the glomerulus, the reabsorption rate of the proximal tubule, and the secretion rate of the proximal tubule.
What is Renal Plasma Clearance?
Renal plasma clearance (RPF) is a measurement of how much blood plasma is filtered by the kidneys per minute. It is calculated by taking the amount of a substance in the urine and dividing it by the concentration of that substance in the blood plasma.
RPF is an important measure of kidney function because it reflects the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which is the rate at which blood is filtered by the kidneys. GFR is an indicator of the overall health of the kidneys, and low GFR can be a sign of kidney disease.
Factors that Affect RPF
RPF is affected by a number of factors, including:
- Age: RPF decreases with age.
- Body size: RPF is higher in larger people.
- Gender: RPF is higher in men than in women.
- Blood pressure: RPF is higher in people with high blood pressure.
- Medications: Some medications can increase or decrease RPF.
- Kidney disease: Kidney disease can decrease RPF.
How to Measure RPF
RPF can be measured using a variety of methods, including:
- Creatinine clearance: Creatinine is a waste product that is produced by the muscles and excreted by the kidneys. Creatinine clearance is a measure of how much creatinine is cleared from the blood by the kidneys per minute.
- Inulin clearance: Inulin is a sugar that is not metabolized by the body and is excreted by the kidneys. Inulin clearance is a measure of how much inulin is cleared from the blood by the kidneys per minute.
- PAH clearance: PAH (para-aminohippuric acid) is a dye that is excreted by the kidneys. PAH clearance is a measure of how much PAH is cleared from the blood by the kidneys per minute.
Table of Normal RPF Values
| Age | Gender | RPF (mL/min/1.73 m²) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | Male | 120-150 |
| 20-29 | Female | 100-130 |
| 30-39 | Male | 110-140 |
| 30-39 | Female | 90-120 |
| 40-49 | Male | 100-130 |
| 40-49 | Female | 80-110 |
| 50-59 | Male | 90-120 |
| 50-59 | Female | 70-100 |
| 60-69 | Male | 80-110 |
| 60-69 | Female | 60-90 |
| 70+ | Male | 70-100 |
| 70+ | Female | 50-80 |
Question 1:
What is the definition of renal plasma clearance?
Answer:
Renal plasma clearance is a measurement of the volume of blood plasma that is cleared of a substance by the kidneys in a given time period.
Question 2:
How is renal plasma clearance calculated?
Answer:
Renal plasma clearance is calculated by multiplying the concentration of the substance in the urine by the urine flow rate and dividing by the concentration of the substance in the plasma.
Question 3:
What factors affect renal plasma clearance?
Answer:
Renal plasma clearance is affected by a variety of factors, including the glomerular filtration rate, the secretion and reabsorption of the substance by the renal tubules, and the plasma protein binding of the substance.
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