A simplified method for the routine determination of effective renal plasma flow.

Abstract

Quantitative renal data (i.e., glomerular filtration rate or effective renal plasma flow) often would be useful ancillary information when radionuclide renography is carried out. The added time, and therefore cost, of obtaining quantitative information might be the main reason a department does not routinely perform a quantitative study, although there is no added radiation or risk to the patient. To simplify the procedure for determining effective renal plasma flow with I-123 orthoiodohippurate (OIH), the published methodology was modified to eliminate the repetitive preparation of a standard solution. This allows the routine incision of effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) determination in I-123 OIH renography with minimal impact on departmental operations.