Calcium channel blockers: a potential cause of false-positive captopril renography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to review the causes of false-positive and false-negative captopril Tc-99m MAG3 renograms performed to evaluate renovascular hypertension at the authors' institution.


METHODS
From May 2000 to January 2002, 77 patients were referred for evaluation of possible renovascular hypertension with captopril Tc-99m MAG3 renography. If the findings of the captopril study were abnormal, a baseline study was performed 3 days later. The captopril studies were retrospectively reviewed and correlated with available renal arteriography, magnetic resonance angiography, and duplex Doppler sonography studies and clinical follow-up. Renal artery stenosis greater than 70% on an arteriogram and 60% on Doppler studies or magnetic resonance angiography was considered positive for renovascular hypertension.


RESULTS
There were five false-negative and four false-positive studies. The five patients who had the false-negative captopril studies underwent arteriography, which showed renal artery stenosis, and a stent was placed in two of them. The four false-positive captopril studies were proved by negative arteriograms in three and negative magnetic resonance angiography in one. Three patients with false-positive studies had bilateral renal function impairment after captopril and were taking calcium channel blockers at the time of the captopril study. One patient had a left nephrectomy and was also taking calcium channel blockers.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic intake of calcium channels blockers is a potential cause of bilateral symmetric false-positive captopril renography.
Ludwig
Vinicius
V
Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2675, USA.
Martin
William H
WH
Delbeke
Dominique
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002216:Captopril; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011866:Radioisotope Renography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017263:Technetium Tc 99m Mertiatide
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015220:Calcium Channels; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017263:Technetium Tc 99m Mertiatide; D002216:Captopril