Magnetic resonance renography findings and their clinical associations in nephropathia epidemica

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate, with magnetic resonance renography (MRR), the dynamics of renal function in patients with nephropathia epidemica (NE) and to correlate the findings with the clinical course of NE. Material and Methods: MRR was performed on 20 hospitalized NE patients during the acute phase of the disease. A repeat MRR study was done 5–8 months later. Primary and repeat MRR studies were compared and functional findings evaluated. Results: The uptake slope of the contrast enhancement curve was abnormal in the primary study in 14 patients, maximum level of enhancement in 11, decreasing slope of contrast enhancement curve in 14, and signal drop at time in 10 patients when the primary and repeat studies were compared. The greater change in the uptake slope of contrast enhancement, maximum level of enhancement, decreasing slope of enhancement, and signal drop at time between primary and repeat MRR studies evinced a mild association with the severity of clinical renal insufficiency and fluid volume overload. Conclusion: Measurable functional MRR findings were recorded in 14/20 NE patients. The severity of the findings was mildly associated with the degree of clinical renal insufficiency and fluid volume overload.