This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lang, R. M. Articles by Borow, K. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lang, R. M. Articles by Borow, K. M.

Circulation, Vol 75, 229-234, Copyright © 1987 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Contrast ultrasonography of the kidney: a new method for evaluation of renal perfusion in vivo

RM Lang, SB Feinstein, SM Powsner, CE McCoy, ED Frederickson, A Neumann, LI Goldberg and KM Borow

Assessment of the effects of pharmacologic agents on renal blood flow (RBF) is clinically important in many disease states, including hypertension and congestive heart failure. However, because of the complexities of RBF, quantitation in vivo has been technically difficult. This study demonstrates the utility of ultrasound imaging of the kidney combined with injection of a sonicated radiocontrast solution (Renografin-76) for the assessment of regional renal blood flow. The technique uses a suspension of uniform microbubbles (diameter 4.4 +/- 2.8 micron), which when injected directly into the descending aorta are distinctly visualized by renal ultrasound. Five dogs were studied. Catheters were placed in the descending aorta for injection of sonicated Renografin and in the renal artery for drug infusions. Data were collected before and during intrarenal artery infusions of bradykinin and norepinephrine. Total RBF was measured by electromagnetic flowmeter. Video density time curves were generated for comparable segments of the outer renal cortex and fit to a monoexponential decay curve. This allowed calculation of the mean exponential decay index (t1/2). An increase in t1/2 paralleled decreased renal perfusion (i.e., longer washout of contrast material). The opposite was true for a decrease in t1/2. Bradykinin increased RBF from 134 +/- 26 to 249 +/- 19 ml/min (p less than .01 vs control), and norepinephrine decreased RBF from 130 +/- 25 to 51 +/- 17 ml/min (p less than .01 vs control).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. B. Feinstein The powerful microbubble: from bench to bedside, from intravascular indicator to therapeutic delivery system, and beyond Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2004; 287(2): H450 - H457. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Wei, E. Le, J.-P. Bin, M. Coggins, J. Thorpe, and S. Kaul Quantification of renal blood flow with contrast-enhanced ultrasound J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 15, 2001; 37(4): 1135 - 1140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]