[Evaluation of renal function using 99mTc-MAG3: comparison with 123I-OIH and 99mTc-DTPA]

The utility of 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) with studied clinically. In the renography obtained with 99mTc-MAG3, the abdominal aorta and the common iliac arteries were clearly visualized in the vascular phase. Due to less background activity and high target to background ratio, the quality of 99mTc-MAG3 image was superior to that of 123I-OIH or 99mTc-DTPA image. The parameters on the renogram including Tmax, T2/3, and T1/2 were compared. The correlation of Tmax and T2/3 or T1/2 were not significant between 99mTc-MAG3 and 123I-OIH. Another parameter of C20/Cmax, where C20 and Cmax are renal activities at 20 min after injection and at Tmax respectively, showed an excellent correlation between 99mTc-MAG3 and 123I-OIH. Using C20/Cmax, pattern of renogram can be characterized numerically. Concerning about the relation between C20/Cmax and renogram pattern, standard renogram pattern showed the C20/Cmax value of less than 0.4, while hypofunctioning pattern showed more than 0.5. The correlation coefficient between the renal uptake of 99mTc-MAG3 and 123I-OIH was 0.880 with a correlation plot: "Y = 1.16X-0.043", where X and Y represent renal uptake of 99mTc-MAG3 and 123I-OIH, respectively. It can be concluded that 99mTc-MAG3 is useful renal imaging agent as an alternative to 123I-OIH, in order to evaluate the proximal tubular function and calculate ERPF.