Why Does Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Decline

In normal case, our kidneys can eliminate the metabolic wastes and toxins, which is called the renal filtration function. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is an important index of renal function. Therefore, the patients with kidney disease are very concerned why GFR declines.

In order to find the answer, it is necessary to know how glomeruli realize its filtration function. According to some researches, glomeruli realize their filtration function through mechanical barrier function and electrostatic barrier function. Mechanical barrier function refers to glomeruli can filtrate some micromolecule substance into urine, but preserve the macromolecule substance in blood. As most of toxins in blood are micromolecule substance so they can be excreted into urine. Electrostatic barrier function refers to glomeruli can make the substance with positive charge get through, but can preserve those with negative substance in blood. Through the above two functions, glomeruli can discharge the micromolecule substance with positive charge into urine and preserve those with macromolecular with negative charge in body. When urine flow through renal tubular, renal tubular will reabsorb the useful substance and the harmful substance will be discharged out of body in urine.

In recent years, with the medicine development, there is a latest understanding of glomerular function and reabsorption of renal tubular. The glomeruli realize their mechanical barrier function depends on glomerular capillary endothelial cells and glomerular capillary mesangial cells. Their electrostatic barrier function is realized glomerular capillary endothelial cells that can prevent the passing of substance with negative substance. With the tree functions, glomeruli can guarantee the micromolecule substances with positive substance are discharged into urine. After urine flow through renal tubular, the epithelial cells of renal tubular can reabsorb the useful substance.


However, renal dysfunction load glomeruli and renal tubular extra work thus damaging their normal function and destroy the original filtration balance. Once GFR declines, it means that one or more than one of the above functional cells are damaged. Therefore, in order to improve GFR for patients with kidney disease, the patients must repair the damaged functional cells firstly. If you want to know more about the cause of the decline in GFR, you can email to kidney-treatment@hotmail.com.