Radioisotope studies in the diagnosis of acute complications in the post-transplantation stage

Abstract

The possibilities of radionuclide investigations with various labelled compounds (¹²⁵I- and¹³¹I-hippuran,^99mTc-albumin,^99mTc-DTPA,^99mTc-citrate,^99mTc-calcium gluconate) in the diagnosis of acute complications of the post-transplantation period are discussed on the basis of observations in 105 recipients in whom acute complications arising in different stages of the post-transplantation period required diagnostic differentiation between various syndromes, i.e. renal arterial or venous thrombosis, ureteral occlusion, failure of ureterocystoanastomosis, acute renal failure, infarct, carbuncle or abscess of the transplant, acute rejection, rupture of the transplanted kidney. The sequence of radionuclide studies in the individual syndromes by means of the gamma-camera and computer processing is set down and the value of these methods in the diagnosis of complications arising in the early or late stage of the post-transplantation period are discussed.