Basal and reserve renal artery blood flow: Effect of endothelium-dependentand -independent vasoactive agonists and radiographic contrast medium in two patients

This manuscript describes the results of invasive testing of renal artery a nd arteriolar reactivity in two patients using a panel of endothelium-depen dent and -independent agents including radiographic contrast medium. We fou nd that the renal artery and microcirculation dilate in response to graded acetylcholine infusions and to bolus nitroglycerin infusion; the renal micr ocirculation dilates in response to papaverine but constricts after adenosi ne and after radiographic contrast medium. Future indications for this test ing are briefly discussed.