New methods to investigate the intrarenal distribution of blood flow and tubular fluid flow dynamics

Renal functional imaging has greatly advanced thanks to new imaging techniq ues. The elucidation of physiopathological mechanisms in diseases such as r enovascular disease, ischemic nephropathy and hypertension may be facilitat ed by the detection of changes in the total and intrarenal distribution of renal blood flow as well as tubular fluid flow. This review discusses the t echniques available to measure these renal function characteristics non-inv asively, mainly using electron beam computerized tomography and magnetic re sonance imaging, Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 8:157-166. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.