Tc-99m MAG3 renal studies: Renogram and effective renal plasma flow in spinal cord injury patients

To determine whether years since injury, level of injury, degree of injury, gender, or age influence renal function in 66 spinal cord injuries (SCI) p atients without urological complications, individual kidney effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and radionuclide renogram (RR) were measured using tech netium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (Tc-99m MAG3). The 176 individual kidne ys included 84 kidneys with normal ERPF and RR, 48 kidneys with normal ERPF but abnormal RR, and 44 kidneys with abnormal ERPF and RR. The incidence o f abnormal Tc-99m renal study results was higher in the kidneys of female p atients (37/54, 68%) than of male patients (55/122, 45%) (p < 0.05), We fou nd that Tc-99m MAG3 renal studies including ERPF and RR are safe and noninv asive urological screening tests for SCI patients. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Ka rger AG, Basel.