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Intravenous Pyelogram
Medically Reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD on December 12, 2022 Written by WebMD Editorial
Contributors

4 min read

What Is an Intravenous Pyelogram?

An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is a type of X-ray that looks at your kidneys and bladder
and the ducts (ureters) that connect them. Doctors don’t use it very often. Other imaging
tests, like CT scans, are more common.

Intravenous Pyelogram Purpose

Your doctor may recommend this exam if you have blood in your urine or pain in your side
or lower back.

This test lets your doctor see the size and shape of your bladder, kidneys, and ureters, and
how well they’re working. They can spot blockages in your urinary tract caused by:

Kidney stones

Enlarged prostate

Tumors in the kidney, ureters, or bladder

Kidney cysts

Scarring, either from surgery or a urinary tract infection

Congenital problems in the urinary tract, such as medullary sponge kidney.

IVP images
Skip can
to main give your doctor enough detailed information to treat a blockage with
content
medication. Otherwise, you may need surgery. While IVP used to be the go-to procedure
for diagnosing urinary tract problems, it’s largely been replaced by ultrasound and CT
scans.
An intravenous pyelogram isn’t a good choice for everyone. Don’t get the procedure if:

You’re allergic to iodine or contrast dye.

You have kidney disease.

You’re pregnant or may be pregnant. Your doctor will most likely choose a different
test, because X-rays use a small burst of radiation.

Infants and children rarely get IVPs.

Intravenous Pyelogram Preparation

Before you have the test, let your doctor know if you’re pregnant or have any medical
conditions, if you have allergies, and if you’re taking any prescription or over-the-counter
medicines.

If you take any of these, you might need to stop before your procedure:

Aspirin

Blood thinners

Metformin, a diabetes medicine

The doctor may ask you to take a mild laxative the night before the IVP and tell you not to
eat or drink after midnight.

You also may need a blood test to see how your kidneys will react to the contrast dye.

Intravenous Pyelogram Procedure

You’ll probably change into a hospital gown.

A lab technician will inject a liquid called a contrast material into your hand or arm
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through an IV.content
The dye travels through your bloodstream to your kidneys and urinary
tract.
You’ll lie still on a table as the tech takes the X-rays. You may be asked to turn from side to
side and hold different positions.

The IVP shows the urinary tract in action as your kidney begins to empty into the ureters.
These are the tubes that carry urine to the bladder. The iodine will show up as bright
white on the film. Dye that doesn’t move or moves too slowly shows where the blockages
are. The images also may show that your kidney, bladder, or ureter isn’t working as well as
it should.

Near the end of the exam, you’ll be asked to pee. This lets your radiologist get a picture of
your bladder after it empties.

An IVP usually takes less than 1 hour. If your kidneys work more slowly, the test can last up
to 4 hours. You should be able to go back to your normal diet and activities afterward. The
doctor may tell you to drink more fluids than normal to flush the contrast dye from your
body.

Intravenous Pyelogram Risks

Most of the time, an intravenous pyelogram is safe with no complications. But there are
side effects and some risks.

Side effects

You’ll feel a sting as the technician injects the contrast material into your hand or
arm.

You may feel itchy or become flushed as the contrast material moves through your
body.

You might have a salty or metallic taste in your mouth.

You could have a brief headache.

You may feel nauseated.

These side effects are common and normally go away within a couple of minutes.

Allergic reactions
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In rare cases, you may have an allergic reaction to the contrast material, or dye. That will
cause:
 Itching that lasts longer than a few minutes

Hives

These symptoms can be treated with medication.

Serious reaction

It’s less common, but possible, to have a serious allergic reaction. That can cause:

Shortness of breath

Swelling in your throat or elsewhere

Low blood pressure

Cardiac arrest

Tell your radiologist right away if you have any symptoms.

You’re more likely to have an allergic reaction to the dye if you have:

Allergies or asthma

Congestive heart failure

Diabetes

If you have kidney disease, there’s a chance the contrast material, or dye, could cause
further kidney damage.

As with any X-ray, your body is exposed to radiation that can cause cancer. But the level is
low in an IVP.

Intravenous Pyelogram Results

A radiologist will analyze the images and send a report to your doctor, who’ll share the
results with you.
Abnormal results could mean you have:

Kidney stones
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Enlarged prostate

Tumor or cyst in your urinary tract

 Structural problems with your kidneys, bladder, or ureters

Scarring or other damage in your urinary tract

You may need other exams and a follow-up visit to see if your treatment is working.
Show Sources
SOURCES:

Radiological Society of North America: “Intravenous Pyelogram.”

Johns Hopkins Medical Health Library: “What is an intravenous pyelogram?”

Urology Care Foundation: “What is an Intravenous Pyelogram?”

Mayo Clinic: “Intravenous pyelogram.”

Radiological Society of North America: “Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP).”

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Can What You Eat Give You Kidney Stones?

Medically Reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD on January 27, 2022 Written by Steven Brown

4 min read

A kidney stone is exactly that -- a hard mass of minerals and salts that forms in the
kidneys. Certain foods and drinks contain chemicals that can lead to these sometimes
painful crystals. The stones come in several different types, and foods that are not so good
for one kind may be OK to eat if you have another type.

If you’ve had a kidney stone, ask your doctor which it was. That’ll help you know which
foods to avoid.

But if you aren’t sure -- or if you just want to be careful about all types of kidney stones -- a
good rule is to stay away from too many salty foods and meats and other animal protein.

And don’t forget to drink lots of water. It helps dilute the waste in your urine to make
stones harder to form.

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Calcium Oxalate Stones
More people get this kind than any other. It forms when calcium in your pee combines
with oxalate, a chemical that's naturally in many foods.
If you’ve had one of these, watch out for:

High-oxalate foods. Many plants contain oxalate, so it’s hard to avoid it entirely. But
some foods have much more than others. Try to limit:

Spinach

Rhubarb

Almonds and cashews

Miso soup

Grits

Baked potatoes with skin

Beets

Cocoa powder

Okra

Bran cereals and shredded wheat cereals

French fries

Raspberries

Stevia sweeteners

Sweet potatoes

If you eat or drink calcium-rich foods at the same time, they can help your body handle
oxalate without turning it into a kidney stone. So pair your spinach salad with low-fat
cheese. Or mix nuts or berries into yogurt. Drinking milk does not cause kidney stones.

Salt. If you eat a lot of sodium, which is an ingredient in salt, that raises the amount of
calcium in your urine. Once you finish eating, any extra oxalate “sticks” to calcium in the
kidneys. That can produce stones. So limit canned foods, packaged meats, fast foods, and
condiments
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content

Animal protein. Limit beef, pork, eggs, cheese, and fish, because they may raise your
chances of most types of kidney stones.
Vitamin C. Too much can make your body produce oxalate. So don’t take more than 500
mg a day.

Calcium Phosphate Stones

These form when calcium in the urine combines with the mineral phosphorus. If you’ve
had one of these, you don’t need to worry about oxalate. But do watch for:

Animal protein-rich foods:

Organ meats, like chicken or beef liver

Milk, cheese, and other dairy products

Eggs

Seafood

Foods that can make urine more alkaline, including:

Fresh fruit juices (except orange, cranberry, and nectarine)

Vegetable juices

Molasses

Processed foods. Phosphorus is a common additive and preservative. So limit fast foods,
bottled colas, frozen foods, and luncheon meats. Read the label for ingredients starting
with “phos.”

Sodium. Most Americans get too much already. Aim for no more than one teaspoon of
table salt a day.

Uric Acid Stones

You get these if your pee is too acidic. These stones contain uric acid, a substance the
body produces as it breaks down chemicals in food. Unlike with calcium oxalate and
calcium phosphate
Skip to main content stones, sodium isn’t a special issue here.

Animal protein. Eating too much red meat, poultry, eggs, and shellfish does two things. It
makes your body make more uric acid. And it can rob your system of citrate, a substance
that helps keep away kidney stones and maybe keep existing ones from growing.

To get enough protein, you can swap your meat and poultry for:

Beans, dried peas, lentils, and peanuts

Soy milk, soy butter, and tofu

Nuts, like almonds, walnuts, and cashews

Sugary drinks. Tart drinks like lemonade, limeade, and fruit juices are naturally high in
citrate that helps keep kidney stones at bay. But hold back on foods and drinks flavored
with sugar or, especially, high-fructose corn syrup. They can lead to stones.

Alcohol. It can make uric acid levels in your blood go up.

Cystine Stones
These come from a rare condition that runs in families called cystinuria. The disorder
causes a natural substance called cystine to leak into your urine. Cystine stones tend to be
larger than other types. If you’ve had one, you might have another.

Some issues you can watch for:

Too little water. Drink lots of water to help discourage cystine from forming stones.

Too much acid. Cystine stones grow more easily in acidic pee. That’s the opposite of
calcium phosphate stones, which favor alkaline urine. So for this type of stone, curb your
hunger for meat and eat more fruits and vegetables, which have lower acid levels.

Sodium: Once again, try not to overindulge on French fries, canned soups, packaged
meats, and other salty foods.
Show Sources
SOURCES:

Cleveland Clinic: “Kidney Stones.”

Harvard Health Publications: “5 steps for preventing kidney stones.”

Mayo Clinic: “Kidney Stones,” “High uric acid level.”

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Eating, Diet & Nutrition for Kidney
Stones.”
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National Kidney Foundation: “6 Easy Ways to Prevent Kidney Stones.”
 University of Chicago Kidney Stone Evaluation and Treatment Program: “Kidney Stone Prevention
Course.”

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