Estimating GFR in children with 99mTc-DTPA renography: a comparison with single-sample 51Cr-EDTA clearance

P>Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measurement by 51Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and blood sampling in children is usually cumbersome for the patient, parents and laboratory technicians. We have previously developed a method accurately estimating GFR in adults. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of this non-invasive method in children. We calculated GFR from 99mTc-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) renography and compared with 51Cr-EDTA plasma clearance of 29 children between the age of 1 month and 12 years (mean 4 center dot 7 years). The correlation between 99mTc-DTPA renography and 51Cr-EDTA plasma clearance was for all children R = 0 center dot 96 (n = 29, P < 0 center dot 0001), for children above 2 years of age R = 0 center dot 96 (n = 18, P < 0 center dot 0001) and for children < 2 years R = 0 center dot 84 (n = 11, P < 0 center dot 001). We conclude that assessment of GFR from 99mTc-DTPA renography is reliable and comparable to GFR calculated from 51Cr-EDTA plasma clearance. Because our method is non-invasive and only takes 21 min, it may be preferable in many cases where an assessment of renal function is needed in children especially when renography is performed anyhow.