[Study of kidney function by radioisotopic methods in Balkan endemic nephropathy]

The authors studied the renal function in 80 patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), 27 males and 53 females, aged from 29-67, by radioisotope clearance (EDTA--16 9yb and hippuran--131J) and isotope nephrogram (ING). The patients were subdivided into four groups according to the creatinine level: first group--creatinine up to 1,5 mg%, 20 patients: second group--creatinine from 1,6 to 8 mg%, 34 patients, third group--creatinine from 8,1 to 15 mg%--16 patients and in the fourth--with creatinine over 15 mg%--10 patients. The examinations revealed that radioisotope clearances, provide significant information about renal function with various stages of nitrogen decompensation. EDTA clearance, according to the authors, can detect the changes in glomerul filtration of patients with BEN at an early compensated stage. The authors compare the results obtained from the investigation of the glomerular filtration by creatinine and EDTA clearance and found the radioisotope clearance more accurate. The effective renal plasma flow in patients with BEN at the early stage of the disease, was established not to be disturbed. That provides grounds to admit that in BEN glomeruli are very likely damaged earlier as compared with the tubules. Isotope nephrogram, according to the authors, is not changed at the early BEN stages. The changes are most frequently bilateral in the advanced stages of the disease.