ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency in which the loss of renal cortex function occurs in children suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections, by static renal imaging with Tc 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (Tc 99m DMSA).
A prospective study was performed in 30 infants (60 kidneys) 1.5 to19 years of age (X=8.9 years) previously diagnosed with recurrent urinary tract infections. The renal cortical scans were obtained 2h after an i.v injection of Tc99m DMSA in dose of 2.77 MBq/kg body weight in anterior, posterior, left oblique and right oblique projection supine.
Pathological findings occured in 26 of 30 children (87%); umilateral in 54% and bilateral in 46%. In the group comprising pathologically changed kidneys diffuse abnormalities were found in 63% , only focal areas of reduced uptake in 26% and both focal and diffuse uptake reduction in 11% of examined kidneys.
Routine application of this technique with UTI will enable early detection of pathological changes of renal parenchyma.

Keywords: Tc 99m DMSA, infants, urinary tract infections Abbreviations: DMSA- 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid IVU- intravenal urography UTI- urinary tract infection

Correspondence to:
Dr Branislava Radovic
Institute of Nuclear medicine, Clinical Center of Serbia
Visegradska 26
11 000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia