THE RENAL BLOOD FLOW IN COARCTATION OF THE AORTA

Abstract

[longdash]The renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rates were detd. in 6 patients with coarctation of the aorta, using the diodrast clearance procedure for the former and the inulin clearance test for the latter detn. There was a reduction in the renal blood flow in these cases, the avg. flow being 795 cc. per min. in the 5 [male][male] and 661 cc. per min. in the 2 [female][female] studied, as compared to the normal renal blood flow in [female][female] of 1288 cc. per min. and in $[degree]., of 986 cc. per min. The inulin clearance however was within normal limits in these cases of coarctation, averaging 122 cc. per min. and 115.5 cc. per min. in the [male][male] and [female][female] respectively. The filtration fraction was high, averaging 26.5% in the [male][male], and 27.6% in the [female][female], as compared to the normal [female] figure of 17.8, and the normal 5 figure of 19.0%. The high filtration fraction was discussed in relation to the genesis of efferent arteriolar spasm within the kidney; this spasm in cases of aortic coarctation must be secondary and compensatory.