The first reports on the use of radioactive isotopes in the evaluation of renal function were published in 1956, when TAPLIN and his collabo rators described experiments in animals and in a few clinical cases. They used 131 iodine-marked Diodrast and Urokon as contrast media, the excretion of which may be followed from without by means of a scintil lation counter. TAPLIN et coll. reported that radioactive Urokon does not seem suitable for clinical use, as patients with known unilateral renal diseases had to be examined for several hours before any difference could be observed in the excretion values on the two sides. Radioactive Diodrast, on the other hand, proved to be well suited for clinical work as the characteristic features of the excretion curve were observable within 10 minutes after the intravenous injection. We have used a similar method in 24 cases in our department. There are no contra-indications other than those current for the intravenous use of iodized contrast media. The excretion may be followed by different methods. The total number of impulses in the scintillation counter during a given time may, for instance, be counted at regular intervals, but more exact results will be obtained by continuous recording of the number of impulses in the counter (registration with an Easterline-Angus recorder). Furthermore, when a rate meter is available, the impulse rate at each moment of time
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