Reproducibility of human kidney perfusion and volume determinations with electron beam computed tomography

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. Alterations in whole kidney, cortical, and medullary perfusion and volume play a pivotal role in various physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) provides accurate measurements of these traits in animals, but their reproduciblity in humans has not been established. METHODS. Perfusion, volume, and flow measurements were obtained by EBCT in eight healthy human volunteers under controlled conditions on two consecutive days. RESULTS. Mean values for whole kidney, cortical, and medullary perfusion and volume obtained with EBCT were similar in scan 1 and scan 2 (P > 0.1), and correlated highly. Coefficients of variation for the repeated measurements usually were less than 14% Values obtained for renal regional perfusion and volume agreed with previously reported values. CONCLUSIONS. Electron-beam computed tomography estimates of single whole kidney, cortical, and medullary perfusions and volumes are highly reproducible in normal humans, and may be useful to advance understanding of renal involvement in human disease.