Individual Renal Plasma Flow Determination in 2 Minutes

Abstract

A method is described for determining effective renal plasma flow in patients, using the renal counts 1-2 min. after injection and applying background subtraction as a ratio to the total amount of radioactivity injected i.v. with appropriate correction for kidney depth. It appears that this simple approach for determination of effective renal plasma flow within a matter of 2 min. is accurate and reliable, and should be useful for a number of applications when it is important to determine total and individual renal plasma flow. The approach is recommended as a screening procedure in lieu of the determination of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, with the additional advantages of gross morphology and determination of individual renal plasma flow in an absolute as well as relative manner.