Interpreting the estimated glomerular filtration rate in primary care: benefits and pitfalls.

As several equations have been developed for estimating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), many laboratories are now reporting the GFR automatically, and primary care providers are left trying to interpret the results and put them into the context of patient care. Therefore, it is important that health care professionals understand how to interpret the estimated GFR value and how to recognize when the estimate may not be accurate.