Nuclear medicine: Investigation of renal function in small animal medicine

Abstract

Kidney function investigations in veterinary medicine are traditionally based on blood analysis (blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine concentration) and / or urinalysis (urine specific gravity, proteinto-creatinine ratio or fractional excretion). Morphologic information is usually obtained by abdominal radiography or ultrasonography. However, when more specific information on the functionality of the kidneys is needed, nuclear medicine offers various tracers that specifically represent glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow or functional renal mass, sometimes combining functional and morphologic data. These procedures can be based on blood sampling techniques (non-imaging methods), or data can be obtained using a gamma-camera (imaging methods). The most commonly used radionuclides for the examination of kidney function in small animal medicine are discussed in this review.