[Mean elimination time of the impulse radiotracer (131I-hippurate) as a marker of renal function]

A possibility of assessment of renal excretory function using mean time of the impulse tracer (131I-hippurate) dose elimination has been shown on the basis of theoretical analysis of hippurate kinetics. Such an index was calculated during classic hippurate renography from time/activity curve over precordium. Other traces and different regions of monitoring might also be employed. The mean time of tracer elimination obtained in this manner only indirectly reflects the hippurate clearance, yet can be easily achieved. Moreover, this entity is not influenced by errors related to quantitative measurements of radioactivity and to hypothetical assumptions, which are common for more sophisticated isotope clearance methods. The enlisted characteristics seem to predispose the proposed method of renal function evaluation for application in screening isotope tests.