Measurement of the Plasma Clearance of Urographic Contrast Media for the Determination of Glomerular Filtration Rate

Further experience with a new method to determine glomerular filtration rate is presented. The method depends on measurement by an x-ray fluorescence technique of the plasma disappearance of the injected iodine in standard nonionic radiographic contrast media used during excretory urography. The results of comparison of contrast clearance with 99m technetium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid clearance in 33 cases showed excellent agreement with a correlation coefficient of 0.95. Reproducibility of the contrast clearance method was confirmed by repeated examination of 10 plasma samples at weekly intervals for 6 weeks, the results of which showed no significant differences. The contrast clearance technique for the measurement of glomerular filtration rate during excretory urography is simple, quick and accurate, and merits further development.