THE RELATIONSHIP OF RENAL OXYGEN CONSUMPTION TO RENAL FUNCTION AND WEIGHT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH NORMAL AND DISEASED KIDNEYS*

Abstract

Observations were made in 25 human patients; 5-"normals", 5-essential hypertension, 5-chronic glomerulonephritis, 5-diabetic nephropathy, 5-chronic pyelonephritis. The purpose was to determine whether any single functional component, (total renal blood flow (TRBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), "tubular functional mass" (TmpAH) was a primary contributor to the total oxygen consumed per 2 kidneys per minute (TQo2). None could be found. Since in certain disease categories (diabetic nephropathy and chronic pyelonephritis) TQo2/TmpAH or TQo2/GFR was increased, while at the same time Tqo2 and renal oxygen consumption per 100 g per minute (Qo2) were decreased. It is suggested that in future studies Tqo2 be considered alone, or if a base reference is desired that renal oxygen consumption be determined in terms of Qo2 Per 100 g per minute. TmpAH renal weight (Rwt) was significantly reduced in patients with chronic pyelonephritis and diabetic nephropathy, while the GFR/TmPAH was reduced in essential hypertension. No definitive explanation is forthcoming for such findings.