Determination of the Relative Glomerular Filtration Rate of Each Kidney in Man

Abstract

Iohexol and ^99mTc-DTPA were used in 43 patients to determine the relative glomerular filtration rate (GFR), i.e., the GFR of each kidney in percent of total GFR. The amount of any GFR marker accumulating in Bowman's space, tubuli and renal pelvis within a few minutes after i.v. injection, before any marker had left the kidney via the ureter, was defined as proportional to the GFR of that kidney. The renal accumulation of iohexol was determined by CT using 10 slices of 8-mm thickness 1 to 4 minutes after injection. The renal accumulation of ^99mTc-DTPA was determined with a gamma camera within 2 minutes after injection. The correlation coefficient between the two methods was 0.98. Due to the higher radiation dose from CT than from ^99mTc-DTPA injection, relative GFR determination with CT should be performed when there is also a diagnostic need to reveal morphology.