Renal ultrasound abnormalities in children with end-stage liver disease--reversal by liver transplantation.
Ultrasound (US) imaging of the kidneys was performed in 43 pediatric patients with end-stage liver disease evaluated for orthotopic liver transplantation. Renal size was increased in 8 patients (19%) and echogenicity of the kidneys was increased in 12 patients (28%). In 12 patients studied after liver transplantation, US revealed normal renal size in all and increased echogenicity in only 2 patients shortly after transplantation. Normalization of renal US findings was also found in 2 patients studied before and after liver transplantation. The glomerular filtration rate varied from 65 to 225 ml/min per 1.73 m2 in 5 patients with abnormal US, and from 74 to 116 ml/min per 1.73 m2 in 3 patients with normal US. Nephromegaly and increased echogenicity on renal US are frequent in children with end-stage liver disease and appear to be mostly reversible by liver transplantation.
Querfeld
U
U
Division of Pediatric Nephrology, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences.
Boechat
I M
IM
Vargas
J
J
Hawkins
R
R
Berquist
B
B
Kangarloo
H
H
Busuttil
R W
RW
Fine
R N
RN
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D014463:Ultrasonography