Comparison of Tc-99m MAG3 and Tc-99m DTPA in Renal Transplant Patients with Impaired Renal Function

• Published in: Clinical nuclear medicine 1990-06, Vol.15 (6), p.371-378
• Main Authors: TAYLOR, ANDREW, ZIFFER, JACK A, ESHIMA, DENNIS
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Graft Rejection; Humans; Kidney Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Kidney Diseases - physiopathology; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Oligopeptides; Organotechnetium Compounds; Pentetic Acid; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium Tc 99m Mertiatide; Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate; Uremia - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0363-9762; 1536-0229
• DOI: 10.1097/00003072-199006000-00001

Tc-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) is a new Tc-99m renal agent that compares favorably to I-131 Hippuran in animal models, normal volunteers, and patients. Based on the fact that Tc-99m MAG3 has a much more rapid clearance than Tc-99m DTPA and a smaller volume of distribution, it was postulated that the image quality of Tc-99m MAG3 studies should be superior to scans obtained using Tc-99m DTPA, particularly in patients with impaired renal function. To test this hypothesis, Tc-99m DTPA and MAG3 images were obtained in three transplant patients during periods of stable but impaired renal function. In one study, the Tc-99m DTPA study was potentially misleading, whereas the Tc-99m MAG3 examination assessed the clinical situation correctly. In all three cases, the Tc-99m MAG3 images were superior.