Purpose: To compare two methods for assessing the single kidney glomerular filtration rate (SK-GFR) in humans using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI. Materials and Methods: Images were acquired from 39 separate MR studies of patients with atherosclerotic renovascular disease (ARVD). Data from the kidneys and descending aorta were analyzed using both a Rutland-Patlak plot and a compartmental model. MR estimates of the SK-GFR were compared with standard radioisotope measures in a total of 75 kidneys. Results: Estimates of renal function using both techniques correlated well with radioisotope-assessed SK-GFR (Spearman's ϭ 0.81, Rutland-Patlak; ϭ 0.71, compartmental model). The Rutland-Patlak approach provided a near one-toone correspondence, while the compartmental method tended to overestimate SK-GFR. However, the compartmental model fits to the experimental data were significantly better than those obtained using the Rutland-Patlak approach. Conclusion: DCE-MRI of the kidneys provides data that correlate well with reference measures of SK-GFR. However, further work, including image registration, is needed to isolate measurement of glomerular filtration to the level of the renal cortex.

Objective To investigate the impact of premature ovarian failure due to whole abdominal radiotherapy (DXT) in childhood on uterine physical characteristics and blood flow and measuring the uterine response to exogenous sex steroid replacement Design A comparative observational study Subjects 10 women with premature ovarian failure due to treatment with whole abdominal irradiation in childhood. A comparison group of 22 women with premature ovarian failure who had not received whole abdominal DXT. Main outcome measures Uterine length and uterine blood flow measurement plus serial assessment of endometrial thickness during a cycle of exogenous sex steroid replacement. Results Uterine length was significantly less (P<0.01) in women who had been exposed to whole abdominal DXT in childhood (mean 4.1 cm, 2SE 0.8) compared with a mean of 7.3 cm (2SE 0.6) in the comparison group. The three women in the DXT group who were studied serially had no increase in endometrial thickness in response to physiological sex steroid replacement therapy and most of the 10 irradiated women had no detectable uterine blood flow with Doppler ultrasound. Conclusions Uterine musculature and blood flow are irreversibly affected by high dose irradiation in childhood. Non‐invasive assessment of this nature may predict potential for pregnancy following ovum donation and embryo transfer.

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For the exclusion of enzyme deficiencies and virilizing tumours clinical assessment and a single serum testosterone measurement will suffice.