[Qualitative and quantitative kidney function testing in dogs using MAG3 clearance]

In the presented study 99mTc-MAG3 clearance measurements were undertaken in 14 dogs during renal scintigraphic examination. Of these dogs, 10 showed no renal impairment, the other 4 exhibited clinically manifested nephropathy. It was the aim of these examinations to determine if this type of clearance measurement that is routinely used in human medicine is suitable for diagnosis of canine nephropathy. An algorithm for the calculation of the MAG3-Clearance developed for humans was modified. The clearance measurement can be performed during the renal scintigraphic procedure without any difficulties. In the group of dogs with no renal impairment the clearance values ranged between 6.4 and 8.0 ml/min/kg, whereas in the group of patients exhibiting nephropathies the values ranged between 2.0 and 2.7 ml/min/kg. The suitability of the method for its use in dogs needs to be confirmed with higher patient numbers. In addition, further studies are necessary to precisely assess the correlation between measured clearance values and effective renal plasma flow in dogs.