Quantitative investigation of renal handling of drugs in dogs with renal insufficiency.

A quantitative analytical method for studying renal handling of drugs in dogs with mild renal impairment is described. Renal damage was induced experimentally by pretreatment with mercuric chloride or neomycin. Analytical results of renal handling in those animals indicated a reduction in maximum transport of secretion, while the affinity of drugs to secretion site and reabsorption showed slight or no change. These results were consistent qualitatively with other renal function test values which demonstrated the state of glomerular or proximal renal tubular function. Evidence for the applicability of the proposed analytical method for quantitative validation of functional changes in the nephron in renally impaired animals, as well as the precise determination of the site of damage, was demonstrated. This work holds considerable promise for the study of dosage adjustments in patients with renal disease.