Measurement of separate glomerular filtration rate by means of 99mTc-DTPA.

We detected the separate glomerular filtration rate (SGFR) with 99mTc-DTPA in patients on the nephrology ward since 1987. There were 40 patients, 19 males and 21 females. Their age ranged from 15 to 79 years old, with a mean +/- 1SD of 44 +/- 17 years old. They all received a SGFR examination and one or two creatinine clearance (Ccr) examinations during hospitalization. The Ccr values ranged from 4.6 to 141.5ml/min, and the mean +/- 1SD was 68.1 +/- 37.9ml/min. The total GFR value by the SGFR method was 1 to 142ml/min, with a mean of 78.9 +/- 39.4ml/min. The correlation coefficient of Ccr and SGFR was r = 0.81 (p = 0.0001). All 16 patients who had a SGFR less than 40% of the total GFR had specific clinical problems in that particular kidney. We concluded that 99mTc-DTPA renography was a correct and rapid method to check GFR, and may be another choice in addition to the traditional Ccr measurement. It was also a useful method for the diagnosis of disease in one kidney.