A new examination method for detecting renovascular hypertension: functional DTPA renal scintigraphy sensitized by captopril.

DTPA functional renal camera scintigraphy (DTPA-FS) was performed in 220 patients with moderately severe and severe hypertension after an initial 7-14-day Captopril + thiazide-type diuretic treatment. If, comparing it with the DTPA-FS prior to treatment, appearance or increase of a side difference were observed and it was also indicated by the clinical picture, nephroangiography was performed. Using this method, 15 cases of unilateral, 3 bilateral renal arterial stenoses were recognized, and in one case restenosis was diagnosed, in all cases of positive DTPA-FS with Captopril. In negative case of DTPA-FS sensitized with Captopril, there was no positive angiographic finding. The method of DTPA-FS performed under Captopril effect is considered to be a simple, harmless, specific out-patient examination for screening genuine renovascular hypertension. To perform several angiographies likely to be negative can be avoided by this method. The hypotensive effect of Captopril may, at the same time, be a useful guide in differentiating patients with renovascular hypertension being suitable most of all for surgical intervention or angioplasty.