Preparation of iodine-125-labeled iothalamate for renal clearance measurements

Iothalamate, a derivative of benzoic acid, is used as a contrast medium for renal function studies, particularly for measurement of glomerular filtration rate. Its chemical composition and clearance properties are similar to those of diatrizoate. The structural differences between these groups of iodinated benzoic acid derivatives are dependent on the groups attached at the 3- and 5-positions of 2,4,6-tri-iodobenzoic acid. The renal clearance of sodium iothalamate in humans closely approximates that of inulin, and it is used as a replacement for inulin in determining glomerular filtration rate. /sup 125/I-labeled iothalamate sodium can be prepared by the exchange-labeling method at pH 4.0. Iothalamate must first be isolated from the contrast medium preparation and purified before radioiodination. After radioiodination, the product is purified by means of precipitation and is then converted to the sodium salt