title: Unilateral kidney blood flow measurement using the 81Rb/81mKr ratio.
abstract: A new method has been developed for the continuous quantification of kidney blood flow, utilizing the unique physical and biological properties of the radioactive tracer couple: rubidium-81/krypton-81m. After intravenous injection, 81Rb concentrates primarily in the kidneys, where it continuously generates the radioactive inert gas 81mKr. This ultrashort-lived isotope is continuously washed out from the tissue at a rate proportional to the blood flow. The radiation emitted from within the kidney is externally detected and analyzed to yield the 81Rb/81mKr ratio. 21 animal experiments have confirmed that this ratio is at any time an accurate measure of the kidney perfusion. The 81Rb/81mKr ratio method has proved to provide a non-invasive way to selectively quantify the blood flow in each kidney, to monitor perfusion changes and to image the distribution of blood flow in a functional scintigram.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply*; D007726:Krypton; D011866:Radioisotope Renography; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012413:Rubidium
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D007726:Krypton; D012413:Rubidium