Noninvasive fluorescence detection of hepatic and renal function

Area of Science:

• Biomedical optics
• Physiological monitoring
• In vivo imaging

Background:

• Assessing liver and kidney function typically requires invasive methods.
• There is a need for noninvasive techniques to continuously monitor organ function.
• Fluorescence-based methods offer potential for sensitive detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a noninvasive in vivo fluorescence detection scheme.
• To continuously monitor exogenous dye clearance from the vasculature.
• To differentiate between normal and impaired liver and kidney function in a rat model.

Main Methods:

• Utilized fiber optics for light transmission and fluorescence detection.
• Employed Indocyanine Green (ICG) for liver function assessment (780 nm excitation, 830 nm emission).
• Used fluorescein-labeled poly-D-lysine for kidney function assessment (488 nm excitation, 518 nm emission).

Main Results:

• Demonstrated characteristic dye clearance curves for normal hepatic and renal function.
• Showed extended clearance times after partial hepatectomy, indicating reduced liver function.
• Observed constant, elevated dye levels after kidney ligation, signifying impaired renal clearance.

Conclusions:

• Established the feasibility of a novel noninvasive method for physiological function assessment.
• The fluorescence detection scheme can effectively monitor dye clearance for organ function evaluation.
• This technique holds promise for continuous, real-time monitoring of liver and kidney health.