Renal reserve: a functional view of glomerular filtration rate

Abstract

The hyperfiltration theory challenged the view that glomerular filtration rate is a fixed function as well as that there is a good correlation between GFR and renal parenchymal damage. Glomerular filtration rate is a dynamic parameter that is diet-dependent and can be altered by hemodynamic maneuvers. Therefore, it is not a good indicator of renal lesion. The renal reserve is an indicator of the workload per nephron and may be a useful parameter to assess the progression of renal disease in the presence of dietary or pharmacological intervention.