All calculators
Renal Function
MDRD GFR (4-Variable)
Estimate GFR using the 4-variable MDRD equation — widely reported by Indian labs.
When to use: MDRD eGFR is still reported by many Indian pathology laboratories alongside creatinine results. Use it to confirm CKD stage and assess severity, particularly when GFR is below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² where MDRD performs adequately. Prefer CKD-EPI 2021 for clinical decisions and for patients with GFR near-normal range, as MDRD systematically underestimates GFR above 60.
Calculator
Fill in all fields to see the result
Formula
MDRD = 175 × (Scr)^−1.154 × (age)^−0.203 × 0.742 (if female)
Same GFR staging as CKD-EPI: G1 ≥90 | G2 60–89 | G3a 45–59 | G3b 30–44 | G4 15–29 | G5 <15
Key Points for NEET PG
- MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) study: original derivation cohort had CKD — hence it is less accurate at normal GFR.
- Four-variable MDRD: age, sex, serum creatinine, [race — removed in modern use]; does NOT require weight.
- MDRD systematically underestimates eGFR in healthy individuals — many labs now report "≥60" rather than an exact number above 60.
- CKD-EPI has largely replaced MDRD in clinical guidelines (KDIGO, ACC/AHA, ADA 2024) — know both for exams.
- Serum creatinine alone is a poor marker of GFR — a small rise (e.g., 0.9 to 1.8 mg/dL) can represent a 50% loss of kidney function.
References
Levey AS et al. A more accurate method to estimate glomerular filtration rate from serum creatinine: a new prediction equation (MDRD) · Ann Intern Med (1999)
Stevens LA et al. Assessing kidney function — measured and estimated glomerular filtration rate · N Engl J Med (2006)
For educational purposes only. Not for clinical decision-making without professional oversight.