A progressive radiorenographic (99mTc-DTPA) presentation of surgically induced renal vein hypertension in baboons.

A 99mTc-DTPA radiorenographic study, supported by excretory urography, blood chemistry and eventually histology was performed on 8 chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) after surgical induction of unilateral renal vein hypertension. Frequent sequential repeat renograms during 6 post-operative months detected fluctuating renal behaviour but did not reveal typical course of the disease. Neither did any one of the radiorenographic parameters (TP, T1/2, FF, relative clearances and perfusion) prove to be more sensitive than the others in detecting abnormalities. Initial microscopic or macroscopic haematuria and proteinuria in general eventually cleared up. Light microscopy demonstrated only mild abnormalities. The effects of venous occlusion of the kidney and the prognosis seemed to be variable as was reflected by radiorenography.