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A GFR Study uses a radioactive nuclide linked with a substrate that gets filtered through the kidneys in a way that directly correlates with kidney function. By only using a small dose of radioactivity, this procedure is minimally invasive, requiring only an IV catheter placement. A short period of anesthesia, typically only about 5 minutes, is required since the patient needs to be very still while the radioactivity is passing through the kidneys.
Most of our patients will be released the same day as their procedure, but some may require overnight hospitalization. Due to California State Law, a pet cannot be released immediately after their procedure. A “holding period” is required to allow the radioactivity to decay before a patient is released from the hospital.
GFR is an ideal way to quantify overall and individual kidney function and can assist in identifying a partial or complete ureteral obstruction.
Examples of how a GFR Scan can be useful:
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Disease such as neoplasia or severe infection is present in one kidney. A GFR Scan can assist in determining if the other kidney will provide adequate function, so that the patient does not go into renal failure after removing the abnormal kidney. Surgery can then be avoided if there is a chance of a poor outcome.
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Cats that are hyperthyroid have increased blood flow to their kidneys, which can mask renal insufficiency disease. Therefore, we recommend a tapazole trial prior to I-131 treatment for these cats to evaluate their renal function. Since many of these cats cannot tolerate the Tapazole, a GFR Scan is an excellent test to determine if subclinical renal disease is present, and to determine if there is a chance of a patient going into renal failure after the I-131 treatment.
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