Use of 99 Tc m Radionuclides to Show Nephrotoxicity of Cyclosporin a in Transplanted Kidneys

In 60 patients, 99Tcm pertechnetate or 99Tcm methylene diphosphonate was injected through an arm vein within 36 h after renal transplantation and repeated 24 or 48 h later. Thirty-one were treated with azathioprine and prednisone, 27 of the grafts had a well-defined peak on the histograms similar to that from the iliac artery histograms at both examinations. In contrast, of the 29 patients treated with cyclosporin A, only 5 of the grafts had a well-defined peak at both examinations. The difference is highly significant. Treatment with cyclosporin A causes a decrease in renal blood flow in the days immediately after transplantation.