台灣末期腎臟病之盛行率及發生率分別高居世界第一名及第四名，並因此造成健保沉重的負擔，而慢性腎臟病之高盛行率及低認知率是造成此現象之主要原因。為了提早診斷出慢性腎臟疾病，測量腎絲球濾過率是非常重要的。本文詳述慢性腎臟病之定義及分期並回顧有關各種腎功能檢查方法，如菊糖清除率、99mTc-DTPA血漿清除率、核子醫學腎功能造影(99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging)、肌酸酐、肌酸酐清除率、cystatin C、及目前常用估算腎絲球濾過率公式之文章並就各種方法在臨床上應用之優缺點做詳細的討論。

Taiwan has the highest prevalence and 4th highest incidence of end-stage renal disease in the world.The cost of dialysis occupies heavy medical expenses of the National Health Insurance. Among many reasons contributing to this condition, the high prevalence and low awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be one of the most important factors. In order to detect CKD earlier, the measurement of glomerular filtration rate
(GFR) accurately is very important. We narrate the definition and classification of CKD and review papers about methods of assessment of renal function, such as inulin clearance, 99mTc-DTPA plasma clearance, 99mTc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging, creatinine, creatinine clearance, cystatin C, Cockcroft-Gault equation, and MDRD equation to understand their advantages and drawbacks.