Chronic Renal Disease and Cardiovascular Risk

To the Editor: Go et al. (Sept. 23 issue) 1 estimated the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with the simplified four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula. Almost half the subjects in their study population (41.7 percent) did not describe themselves as black or white. Despite the important influence of a person's ethnic background on the estimated GFR, the variable “race or ethnic background” allows only factors for “European-American” or “African-American” to be inserted into the MDRD formula. 2 It can be assumed that if more accurate estimates of the GFR had been obtained with the use of modified ethnicity-specific multiplication . . .