title: Vascular complications in renal allografts: detection with duplex Doppler US.
abstract: Renal allografts are subject to many vascular complications. Over a 2-year period, 334 duplex Doppler ultrasonographic (US) examinations were performed in 88 renal allograft recipients. Vascular occlusion on the basis of severe vascular rejection was documented in ten patients (11.4%) for a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. Seven patients, for whom there was clinical and Doppler US evidence for renal artery stenosis, underwent angiography. A significant stenosis was confirmed and treated by angioplasty in four patients; one had an insignificant stenosis in an accessory artery, one had kinking of the renal vessels, and another had normal findings. The most reliable criteria for stenosis were a high-velocity jet exceeding 7.5 kHz and distal turbulence. One arteriovenous fistula was diagnosed by the presence of an intrarenal high-velocity jet. Duplex Doppler US is a useful, noninvasive, and portable initial procedure with which to screen patients for vascular complications of renal transplantation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012077:Renal Artery; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D012082:Renal Veins; D014463:Ultrasonography