title: Resistive index for kidney evaluation in normal and diseased cats.
abstract: The objectives were to determine the resistive index (RI) in normal cats and in cats with various renal diseases, and to evaluate the effect of age on RI.
  
  
  
  The subjects were cats that had ultrasonography (US) of the urinary tract and RI measurement at our centre between January 2003 and April 2014. Based on clinical evaluation, biochemical and haematological tests, urinalysis and US, the cats were classified as healthy or diseased. RI measurements were made from the interlobar or arcuate arteries. Data were analysed for differences between the right and the left kidney, the two sexes, different age groups in healthy cats, and between healthy and diseased cats.
  
  
  
  A total of 116 cats (68 males, 48 females) were included: 24 healthy and 92 diseased. In the healthy cats, RI (mean ± SD) differed significantly (P = 0.02) between the right kidney (0.54 ± 0.07) and the left kidney (0.59 ± 0.08). For the left kidney, RI was significantly higher in cats with chronic kidney disease (0.73 ± 0.12) and acute kidney injury (0.72 ± 0.08) (P = 0.0008). For the right kidney, RI was significantly higher in cats with chronic kidney disease (0.72 ± 0.11), acute kidney injury (0.74 ± 0.08), polycystic kidney disease (0.77 ± 0.11) and renal tumour (0.74 ± 0.001) (P <0.0001). There was no significant effect on RI value in either kidney in terms of age or sex.
  
  
  
  RI could be considered a valuable diagnostic tool in cats, useful in the differential diagnosis of diffuse renal diseases. While it does not change with the age of the cat, ultrasonographers should be aware that RI may differ between the two kidneys.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University "Ion Ionescu de La Brad", Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Vlad
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tipisca
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Centre of Veterinary Radiology, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murino
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Centre of Veterinary Radiology, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mennonna
authors.affiliation: IRCCS SDN, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Auletta
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University "Ion Ionescu de La Brad", Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Vasile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vulpe
authors.affiliation: Interdepartmental Centre of Veterinary Radiology, University "Federico II", Naples, Italy leonardo.meomartino@unina.it.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meomartino
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary