How to Calculate GFR for Carboplatin

GFR refers to the glomerular filtration rate of the kidney. Basically, this rate describes how fast the kidney can completely eliminate a substance from the body. Different clearance rates can be calculated for many different drugs, and a wide variety of factors affect those rates. Often, calculating an accurate clearance rate plays a vital role in optimizing dosing regimens, particularly in the elderly or those with impaired renal function. Carboplatin is a chemotherapy drug primarily eliminated by the kidney. Since it has serious side effects, you need to calculate an accurate clearance rate in order to maximize therapeutic benefit and minimizing harm.

• 1

  Recognize that carboplatin clearance is often calculated from creatinine clearance. Studies have shown a direct relation between carboplatin clearance and GFR; due to ease and cost effectiveness in a clinical setting, GFR is usually calculated from creatinine clearance.

• 2

  Obtain a serum creatinine sample. This step requires a blood sample to be tested for creatinine concentration. Most likely, you need to visit your doctor's office for this step. He will then send the sample to a laboratory.

• 3

  Calculate creatinine clearance rate using the modified Cockcroft-Gault formula: Creatinine clearance = [(140-age (in years)) X weight (kg)/ (72 X serum creatinine)]. If you are female, multiply the calculated creatinine clearance by 0.85.