title: Prognostic value of absent end-diastolic flow within the first week following renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Doppler sonogram of the graft is used as a routine assessment in renal transplantation. When the resistance index (RI) equals 1, absent end-diastolic flow (AEDF) is observed; the prognostic value of AEDF is presently unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1988 and 1996, 342 patients received a first cadaveric kidney transplant in our ward. AEDF was observed in 30 patients who were compared with 60 controls who showed an RI < 0.75 within the first 7 days after transplantation. They were matched for year of transplantation (+/-1 year); recipient age (+/-2 years); recipient sex; and HLA antibodies (3 classes: 0%, 1-75%, >75%). The follow-up was 4 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AEDF was observed at day 1 in 64%, at day 3 in 96%, and at day 7 in 28%. Recipient age, donor age, recipient sex, cold and warm ischemia durations, HLA A, B, and DR mismatches, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) status were not different between the 2 groups. Immediate graft function and 3- to 24-month creatinine levels were better in the control than the AEDF group. However, there was no difference in serum creatinine at 3 and 4 years or in patient and graft survivals during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AEDF observed within the first week following transplantation is associated with impaired renal functional recovery. However, whether AEDF is a prognostic marker of poor long-term graft function or survival remains to be proven.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging, INSERM U930-CNRS 2448, François Rabelais University, CHU Tours, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Halimi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Najjar
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buchler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunereau
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lebranchu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tranquart