Effect of hemodilution on the distribution of renal blood flow.

We evaluated the effects of hemodilution, expansion of intravascular volume, and expansion of interstitial volume on the distribution of cortical renal blood flow, utilizing the microsphere technique. Hemodilution without volume expansion (saline exchange) produced an increase in fractional blood flow in zone 1 (outermost zone) of the cortex from 34 plus or minus 1% to 43 plus or minus 2% and a decrease in fractional blood flow in zone 4 (innermost zone) from 16 plus or minus 2% to 13 plus or minus 2%. Hemodilution without volume expansion or a decrease in plasma protein concentration (isoncotic exchange) produced a similar redistribution in blood flow in zone 1 from 34 plus or minus 2% to 41 plus or minus 2% and in zone 4 from 14 plus or minus 2% to 10 plus or minus 1%. Hemodilution with intravascular volume expansion (hyperoncotic albumin infusion) also produced a superficial shift; blood flow in zone 1 increased from 27 plus or minus 1% to 30 plus or minus 1% and that in zone 4 decreased from 19 plus or minus 2% to 15 plus or minus 1%. Previous studies have demonstrated a redistribution to the juxtamedullary area after saline expansion. Our data demonstrate that hemodilution causes flow to redistribute to the superficial rather than the deep cortex. This superficial shift appears to be secondary to decrease hematocrit rather than to dilution of plasma proteins or expansions of intravascular volume. The deep shift in cortical blood flow which occurs during saline loading is presumably a consequence of expansion of interstitial volume.