Renal studies in nuclear medicine.

Research in nephrologic nuclear medicine is presently concentrated in two well-defined areas: interventional procedures and the use of mercaptoacetyltriglycine. The ongoing evaluation of mercaptoacetyltriglycine continues to be a source of interesting research activity, with the distribution volume and the extent of hepatic excretion remaining points of discussion. This tracer permits quantitative determination of renal function. As an imaging agent, mercaptoacetyltriglycine compares favorably with hippurate and with diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid, particularly in evaluating renal insufficiency. Renal function studies obtained during pharmacologic or physiologic intervention dominate research in hypertension and obstructive uropathy. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition improved the renographic detection of renovascular lesions. Interventional renography with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition or ergometric exercise were both capable of generating useful prognostic data on the posttherapy blood pressure response in patients with renovascular hypertension. Interventional diuretic renography with furosemide permits surgical intervention to be reserved for organs at immediate risk because the degree of obstruction and the extent of renal function compromise are easily recognized.