REGIONAL RENAL BLOOD-FLOW IN NORMAL AND DISEASE STATES

Renal function is intimately dependent on renal blood flow. Alteration s in either total or regional renal blood flow have major consequences for renal function. Through homeostatic mechanisms the kidneys are ab le to maintain relatively stable rates of flow over a wide range of pe rfusion pressures. A combination of neural, endocrine, exocrine and au tocrine signals serve to regulate renal blood flow at both local and s ystemic levels. Alterations in the balance of these systems occur in t he presence of certain pathophysiological conditions and an understand ing of the subsequent changes in regional renal blood flow distributio n aids in the understanding of the associated changes in renal functio n. The regulation and distribution of regional blood flow and the effe cts of surgical and pathophysiological conditions on these factors are reviewed.