Measured (and estimated) glomerular filtration rate: reference values in West Africa.

Background: Establishment of normal reference values for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is mandatory in nephrology. However, no data are available for measured GFR (mGFR) in Africa.

Methods: GFR was measured in 237 healthy adult subjects (103 women and 134 men, mean age 34 ± 10 years) by iohexol plasma clearance.

Results: The mean mGFR was 103 ± 17 mL/min/1.73 m2 and the median value was 103 mL/min/1.73 m2 (2.5th and 97.5th percentiles are 76 and 137 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively). No significant difference in mGFR results was observed in patients < 40 years of age, whereas a significant decline in mGFR was observed after 40 years of age. There was no significant difference between mGFR in men and women.

Conclusions: Normal GFR values and descriptions of percentiles are now available for West Africa. As in Caucasians, no significant difference was observed between men and women. Moreover, the same age-associated decline in mGFR is also observed after 40 years of age, as in Caucasians.