Beukhof H R, ter Wee P M, Sluiter W J, Donker A J
Am J Nephrol. 1985;5(4):267-70. doi: 10.1159/000166945.
Low doses of dopamine are known to increase renal blood flow without influencing heart rate or systemic blood pressure. Indeed this effect was observed in 32 patients with IgA glomerulopathy. A concomitant increase in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), however, was only observed in patients with a baseline GFR greater than or equal to 73 ml/min/1.73 m2. Moreover, the change in GFR during dopamine infusion increased with increasing baseline GFR. We conclude that in IgA glomerulopathy nephron loss is compensated for by a progressive utilization of the kidney's functional reserve capacity which seems exhausted when compensated GFR falls below 73 ml/min/1.73 m2.
