The new, race-free, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Consortium (CKD-EPI) equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate: Is it applicable in Europe? A position statement by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM)
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, vol.61, no.1, pp.44-47, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 61 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2023
- Doi Number: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0928
- Journal Name: Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, MEDLINE
- Page Numbers: pp.44-47
- Keywords: chronic kidney disease epidemiology consortium (CKD-EPI), creatinine, equation, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), european kidney function consortium (EKFC)
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2022.The EFLM recommends not to implement the race-free Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Consortium (CKD-EPI) equation in European laboratories and to keep the 2009 version of the CKD-EPI equation, without applying a race correction factor. This recommendation is completely in line with a recent Editorial published by the European Renal Association who has also proposed to change to a novel equation only when it has considerably better performance, trying to reach global consensus before implementing such a new glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimation equation. In Europe, this equation could be for instance the new European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) equation, which is population-specific, developed from European cohorts and accurate from infants to the older old. Beyond serum creatinine, the estimating equations based on cystatin C will probably gain in popularity, especially because cystatin C seems independent of race. Finally, we must keep in mind that all GFR equations remain an estimation of GFR, especially rough at the individual level. Measuring GFR with a reference method, such as iohexol clearance, remains indicated in specific patients and/or specific situations, and here also, the role of the clinical laboratories is central and should still evolve positively in the future.