Human glomerular permeability and tubular recovery values for hemoglobin.

Evidence for the glomerular filtration and tubular recovery of hemoglobin has been provided by several investigators (1-5). The simultaneous determination of hemoglobin and creatinine clearances in dogs and rabbits (2, 3) and of hemoglobin and inulin clearances in man has given ratios between 0.02 and 0.05. These values have been interpreted as the permeability of the glomeruli to hemoglobin relative to creatinine or inulin. Harrison's studies on dogs indicated the glomerular permeability to hemoglobin was between 4 and 20 per cent of the permeability to creatinine (5). The capacity of the renal tubules for hemoglobin recovery varied between 4 and 45 mg./100 cc. of glomerular filtrate. The present study was undertaken primarily to determine the glomerular permeability and tubular recovery values for hemoglobin in the human kidney. In addition, the fact that hemoglobin and serum albumin may have approximately the same molecular weight, volume, and dissymmetry (6) suggested that the study of the glomerular permeability to hemoglobin might provide a means for determining the renal factors involved in the production of proteinuria.