THE GLOMERULAR CLEARANCE AND RENAL TRANSPORT OF HEMOGLOBIN IN ADULT MALES

Abstract

The glomerular clearance of free hemoglobin relative to inulin (CGfree Hb/CIn) was measured in 47 adult males free of demonstrable renal disease. The average value of CGfree Hb/CIn was 0.055 [plus or minus] 0.019. No significant correlation between CGfree Hb/CIn and age was found. The estimation of renal tubular reaborption of free hemoglobin in 34 patients in whom the ratio of filtered load to reabsorption exceeded 3 averaged 1.43 [plus or minus]0.96 mg per minute with a range of 0.06 to 4.41. On the basis of these studies, a significant correlation between age and glomerular permeability hemoglobin was not demonstrated. Additional evidence for renal tubular reabsorption of hemoglobin is provided by the presence of a measurable THb in every case studied.