Functional imaging of the kidney with electron beam CT

The kidney is involved in regulation of homeostasis and controls a variety of physiological processes including electrolyte balance, blood volume and arterial pressure, and has various endocrine functions. It is also a vulnerable target organ to drugs, toxins and other risk factors. Renal dysfunction and maladjusted responses may well have grave repercussions on the wide spectrum of functions of the kidney, and may contribute to progression of renal and cardiovascular disease. Because of the potential ramifications of renal impairment, diverse techniques have been developed and utilized for measurement of renal haemodynamic function, including renal perfusion and renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and the dynamics of the tubular reabsorption process. However, the complexity and spatial heterogeneity of intrarenal structure and function have made it difficult to reliably quantify these characteristics noninvasively in the intact single kidney under a wide spectrum of physiologic conditions.