A comparison of inulin, para-aminohippuric acid, and endogenous creatinine clearances as measures of renal function in neonatal foals.

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated in eight full-term neonatal foals by the single injection inulin plasma clearance method at two days of age, the continuous infusion plasma and urinary clearance methods at three days of age, and the 12-hour endogenous creatinine clearance method at four days of age. The effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) was estimated simultaneously by the single injection para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) plasma clearance method in the eight two-day old foals and the continuous PAH infusion plasma and urinary clearance method in the eight three-day old foals. The GFR (+/- 1 SEM), as determined from the single injection plasma clearance method, was 2.30 +/- 0.34 mL/kg/min; by continuous infusion plasma clearance 2.56 +/- 0.30 mL/kg/min; by continuous infusion urinary clearance 2.82 +/- 0.32 mL/kg/min; and by 12-hour endogenous creatinine clearance 2.81 +/- 0.55 mL/kg/min. Effective renal plasma flow (+/- 1 SEM) measured by the single injection plasma clearance method was 15.22 +/- 1.5 mL/kg/min, by continuous infusion plasma clearance was 18.21 +/- 2.0 mL/kg/min. and by continuous infusion urinary clearance it was 11.95 +/- 1.9 mL/kg/min. The results of these methods were not statistically different. On a per kilogram body weight basis, the full-term neonatal foal's GFR and ERPF was determined to be comparable with adult equine GFR and ERPF.