title: Use of quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasonography to detect diffuse renal changes in Beagles with iatrogenic hypercortisolism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility of quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) for detection of changes in renal blood flow in dogs before and after hydrocortisone administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  11 Beagles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: oral administration of hydrocortisone (9.6 mg/kg; n = 6) or a placebo (5; control group) twice a day for 4 months, after which the dose was tapered until treatment cessation at 6 months. Before treatment began and at 1, 4, and 6 months after, CEUS of the left kidney was performed by IV injection of ultrasonography microbubbles. Images were digitized, and time-intensity curves were generated from regions of interest in the renal cortex and medulla. Changes in blood flow were determined as measured via contrast agent (baseline [background] intensity, peak intensity, area under the curve, arrival time of contrast agent, time-to-peak intensity, and speed of contrast agent transport).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant increases in peak intensity, compared with that in control dogs, were observed in the renal cortex and medulla of hydrocortisone-treated dogs 1 and 4 months after treatment began. Baseline intensity changed similarly. A significant increase from control values was also apparent in area under the curve for the renal cortex 4 months after hydrocortisone treatment began and in the renal medulla 1 and 4 months after treatment began. A significant time effect with typical time course was observed, corresponding with the period during which hydrocortisone was administered. No difference was evident in the other variables between treated and control dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative CEUS allowed detection of differences in certain markers of renal blood flow between dogs treated orally with and without hydrocortisone. Additional studies are needed to investigate the usefulness of quantitative CEUS in the diagnosis of diffuse renal lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium. hendrikhaers@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haers
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daminet
authors.forename: Pascale M Y
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Smets
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duchateau
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aresu
authors.forename: Jimmy H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Saunders
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000662:veterinary*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D045423:Microbubbles / Q000662:veterinary; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media