Comparative study of the kinetics of the renal tracers 99Tcm-MAG3 and 131I-hippuran.

Serial measurements of plasma activity, plasma protein binding and urine excretion were obtained in order to study 99Tcm-MAG3 (MAG) and 131I-Hippuran (OIH) kinetics after simultaneous injection of both tracers in 21 patients with various renal diseases. Results were compared on the basis of a compartmental model, calculating the rate constants as well as the clearance and volume of distribution. Protein binding was calculated in 10 patients (mean: MAG = 54.7%, OIH = 33.8%). The dependence of time, tracer and patient factors was shown by ANOVA. Time was independent, with tracer and patient factors and their interaction being significant. The mean value of the renal excretion constant was equal for the two tracers (k12 = 0.052 min-1). The clearance values were found to be highly correlated (r = 0.982) with a ratio of 0.57 between them. The volumes of distribution in litres were 4.1 (MAG) and 7.0 (OIH). One-hour urine excretion was nearly the same for both tracers (MAG: 64%, OIH: 63% of the injected dose).