What is the estimated glomerular filtration rate for a 39‑year‑old male with a serum creatinine of approximately 100 µmol/L?

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eGFR Calculation for 39-Year-Old Male with Creatinine 100.38 µmol/L

Using the MDRD equation, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for this patient is approximately 85 mL/min/1.73 m², indicating normal kidney function.

Calculation Method

The MDRD equation is the most widely validated and recommended formula for estimating GFR in adults 1, 2. For this calculation:

MDRD Formula:

  • eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m²) = 175 × (serum creatinine in mmol/L × 0.0113)^-1.154 × age^-0.203 × (0.742 if female) × (1.212 if Black) 1

Step-by-step calculation:

  • Convert creatinine: 100.38 µmol/L ÷ 88.4 = 1.14 mg/dL 2
  • Apply MDRD: 175 × (1.14)^-1.154 × (39)^-0.203 × 1.0
  • Result: eGFR ≈ 85 mL/min/1.73 m²

Clinical Interpretation

  • This eGFR of 85 mL/min/1.73 m² is well above the threshold of 60 mL/min/1.73 m² that defines chronic kidney disease 1
  • Normal GFR for men is approximately 130 mL/min/1.73 m² with a mean decline of 0.75 mL/min/year starting in the third or fourth decade 2
  • An eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² does not meet criteria for CKD in the absence of other kidney damage markers 1, 2
  • No medication dose adjustments are required, as these are only necessary when eGFR falls below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² 2

Important Clinical Caveats

  • Never use serum creatinine alone to assess kidney function, as it is affected by muscle mass, age, sex, dietary protein intake, creatinine generation, and tubular secretion independent of GFR 2
  • The MDRD equation assumes steady-state conditions and may be less accurate in patients with extremes of muscle mass, obesity, recent exercise, infection, fever, or marked hyperglycemia 1, 2
  • This calculation assumes the creatinine was measured using a standardized enzymatic method; if the older Jaffé method was used, results may be slightly less accurate 1, 2
  • For this young, healthy male with normal kidney function, no specific kidney-related follow-up is indicated based on this eGFR alone 3

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Guideline

Estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate in Adults

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Interpretation of Normal Laboratory Values in Young Adults

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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