Reproducibilities and responses to food intake of GFR measured with chromium-51-EDTA and iohexol simultaneously and independently in normal subjects

Background. The aim was to evaluate the reproducibility of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured with iohexol and its response to food in a direct and independent comparison with Cr-51-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and examine the influence of two different whole body scaling parameters, body surface area (BSA) and extracellular fluid volume (ECV). Methods. Fasting and non-fasting GFR were measured in 20 normal volunteers using Cr-51-EDTA and iohexol, simultaneously injected into opposite arms. In 10, the fasting study was repeated. Venous samples obtained bilaterally 20, 40, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min after injection were assayed for indicator injected contralaterally-Cr-51-EDTA by well-counting and iohexol by X-ray fluorescence. GFR scaled to BSA was measured from six samples (GFR/BSA6) and from the last three (GFR/BSA3). GFR scaled to ECV was calculated as the mean transit time of marker using six samples (GFR/ECV6) or the last three (GFR/ECV3). Results. GFR/BSA3 was reproducible (coefficient of variations of 7.4% for Cr-51-EDTA and 7.6% for iohexol). Using Cr-51-EDTA, GFR/ECV3 (9.1%) and GFR/ECV6 (7.7%) were as reproducible as GFR/BSA3 and GFR/BSA6 (both 8.1%). However, GFR/ECV3 measured with iohexol had poorer reproducibility (16.8%). Food resulted in an increase in scaled GFR of about 5 ml/min but this was statistically significant only with respect to GFR/BSA (measured with Cr-51-EDTA or iohexol) and not GFR/ECV. Conclusions. Measured with Cr-51-EDTA, but not iohexol, GFR/ECV was as reproducible as GFR/BSA. GFR/BSA, measured with Cr-51-EDTA or iohexol, but not GFR/ECV, significantly increased after food.