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Renal and Urinary Physiology

A 35-year-old male with polycystic kidney disease has a decrease in both glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal blood flow (RBF). The nephrologist wants to administer a drug that will increase both GFR and RBF. GFR and RBF would both increase if which of the following occurred?

ExplanationThe renal artery pressure and the resistance of the renal vascular bed determine renal blood flow. Decreasing the resistance of either the afferent or efferent arterioles could increase RBF. Alternatively, if the resistance of one of these vessels decreased more than the resistance of the other one increased, RBF would also increase. Glomerular filtration rate will increase if glomerular capillary pressure increases. This can occur if the afferent arteriolar resistance decreases or if the efferent arteriolar resistance increases.