A modified two-compartment model for measurement of renal function using dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography

Objectives To validate and adapt a modified two-compartment model, originally developed for magnetic resonance imaging, for measuring human single-kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCE-CT). Methods This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Thirty-eight patients with essential hypertension (EH, n = 13) or atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS, n = 25) underwent renal DCE-CT for GFR and perfusion measurement using a modified two-compartment model. Iothalamate clearance was used to measure reference total GFR, which was apportioned into single-kidney GFR by renal blood flow. Renal perfusion was also calculated using a conventional deconvolution algorithm. Validation of GFR and perfusion and inter-observer reproducibility, were conducted by using the Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman analysis. Results Both the two-compartment model and iothalamate clearance detected in ARAS patients lower GFR in the stenotic compared to the contralateral and EH kidneys. GFRs measured by DCE-CT and iothalamate clearance showed a close match (r = 0.94, P<0.001, and mean difference 2.5±12.2mL/min). Inter-observer bias and variation in model-derived GFR (r = 0.97, P<0.001; mean difference, 0.3±7.7mL/min) were minimal. Renal perfusion by deconvolution agreed well with that by the compartment model when the blood transit delay from abdominal aorta to kidney was negligible. Conclusion The proposed two-compartment model faithfully depicts contrast dynamics using DCE-CT and may provide a reliable tool for measuring human single-kidney GFR and perfusion.