Tamm-Horsfall Glycoprotein Excretion and Aggregation During Intravenous Urography Relevance to Acute Renal Failure

The effect of intravenous urography (IVU) on the excretion rate and precipitation of Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THG) has been evaluated in 19 patients. Urine samples were collected immediately before the administration of contrast medium (U1) and then during the period of the excretion urogram (U2). The urinary THGcreatinine clearance ratio decreased in 15 patients by a mean of 28.2% (range 2.9-70.8) and increased in four by a mean of 22.8% (range 13.5-36.4). In 18 of 19 patients the amount of THG precipitated following the IVU decreased from an average of 75.6% of the total in U1 (range 2.2-100) to 19.5% (range 2.0-59) in U2. In the one exception the fraction precipitated was only 2.2% in U1 and 2.5% in U2. It is concluded that during routine IVU there is no marked increase in the excretion rate of THG. More importantly, the percentage of THG precipitated actually decreases.