Estimation of glomerular size and number from radiographs of the kidney

In 32 adult human kidneys obtained at necropsy, renal demensions, measured from radiographs, were correlated with the number and cross-sectional area of glomeruli, determined by point-counting and computerized image analysis. Cortical area, measured from post-mortem angiograms, was poorly correlated with glomerular area and was not significantly correlated with glomerular number per kidney. The area of the whole kidney was poorly correlated with the number of glomeruli per kidney and was not significantly correlated with glomerular area. However renal dimensions, particularly total renal area, were highly significantly correlated with the product of glomerular area and number. This may allow glomerular numbers to be estimated in life but will not assess loss of glon the ageing kidney, the number of glomeruli per unit volume increased.