Glomerular Filtration Rate Measurement and 131I-Hippuran Renography Before Unilateral Nephrectomy

Plasma creatinine, IVP, GFR, and renography were analysed in 53 candidates for unilateral nephrectomy. Renography was used to determine how the function was distributed between the two kidneys. Twelve of 29 patients with normal plasma creatinine had decreased GFR. One-third of 74 individual kidneys showing normal function at IVP had GFR values below 30 ml/min. There was poor agreement between the radiological and renographic estimation of function distribution. In 6 of 14 patients who were not nephrectomized mainly because the other kidney had a reduced function, the kidney scheduled for removal had the major function. GFR and renography were particularly informative in cases with elevated plasma creatinine and normal IVP.