Figure 1.

Graphic representation of the evolution of key pathological events, such as percentage of nephrons functionally active, overall renal excretory function and glomerular filtration rate, and plasma and urine markers associated with time course of chronic kidney disease. The figure shows the relative priority of appearance of these elements with repect to one another as it occurs in most cases of chronic kidney diseases. Their appearance, however, may vary from this general prototype in specific diseases or in determined cases. In the same way, the slope of increase or decline may also vary. RRT: renal replacement therapy, BUN: blood urea nitrogen, NAG: N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase.