Resistive index in chronic nephropathies: predictive value of renal outcome.
The study of renovascular resistances by color Doppler ultrasound has become a useful diagnostic resource for nephrologists. In recent nephrological literature, many papers deal with the correlations between resistive index, anatomo-pathological patterns and renal function.


OBJECTIVE
In our study, we have tried to discover if resistive index represents a prognostic index of progressive renal failure.


METHODS
To this purpose we compared renal resistive index and blood creatinine obtained from 28 nephropathic patients at their first control, with blood creatinine values after a 3-year follow-up period. Using a linear regression test, we found a strong correlation between the initial value of resistive index and the value of creatinine variation (p = 0.006).


RESULTS
All of the patients with normal resistive index at the beginning maintained a stable renal function. Conversely, the patients with high resistive index at their first control showed a progressive renal failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows the reliability of resistive index in the prognostic evaluation of renal outcome.
Splendiani
G
G
Department of Nephrology, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Italy. splendiani@med.uniroma2.it
Parolini
C
C
Fortunato
L
L
Sturniolo
A
A
Costanzi
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*
D003404:Creatinine