Evaluation of 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid renal uptake as an index of individual kidney function after acute ureteral obstruction and desobstruction. An experimental study in rats.

The evolution of the 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal uptake is followed after ligation of the right ureter in rats. The DMSA uptake falls rapidly from 35% before ligation to 13% after 24 h, and decreases further to 1.5% after 31 days. The ligated ureter was desobstructed after 10, 17, 24 and 31 days, respectively, DMSA uptake was controlled 4, 11 and 18 days after desobstruction. In the first group, deobstruction after 10 days, the DMSA uptake rose from 7 to 15%, while in the fourth group it rose from 1.5 to 2%. It is concluded that DMSA uptake provides a reliable index for renal function after acute urinary tract obstruction in rats. If the DMSA uptake has fallen below 4% very little renal function can be expected to be regained, whereas above 4% the function can improve considerably.