title: Quantitative analysis of renal vascularization in fetuses with urinary tract obstruction by three-dimensional power-Doppler.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the applicability of 3-dimensional evaluation of renal vascularization for predicting postnatal renal function in fetuses with suspected urinary obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fetuses were evaluated by 3-dimensional power-Doppler histogram, and vascular indices were estimated. Depth between the probe and the renal cortex was also evaluated. Postnatal follow-up was obtained in all cases and the main outcome was renal impairment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three fetuses with urinary dilatation (cases) and 73 with normal renal morphology (controls) were included in the current study. Five (21.7%) cases developed renal impairment. Vascularization index and vascularization and flow index were significantly lower in fetuses that developed renal impairment compared with those with normal renal function (P = .009 and P = .036, respectively). The 3 vascular indexes correlated with depth. Percentage of depth-corrected vascularization index and vascularization flow index were lower in fetuses developing postnatal renal failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fetal renal vascularity (vascularization index and vascularization and flow index) was significantly lower in fetuses that developed renal impairment.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lisandra Stein
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Bernardes
authors.forename: Rossana P V
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saada
authors.forename: Remi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruano
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lortad-Jacob
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zugaib
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benachi
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012079:Renal Circulation; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*