Renal parenchymal resistance in patients with biopsy proven glomerulonephritis: Correlation with histological findings.
Renal Doppler ultrasound is increasingly used in nephrology for the evaluation of renovascular disease, allograft dysfunction, and chronic nephropathies. We compared intrarenal hemodynamic parameters to biopsy findings of glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, crescents, arteriolosclerosis, and clinical variables in 100 patients. A positive correlation exists between renal function and percentage of glomerular sclerosis (P <0.01, r = 0.26), conversely a negative correlation exists between glomerular filtrate rate and percentage of glomerular sclerosis(P <0.0001, r = -0.35). The percentage of glomerular sclerosis correlate positively with pulsatile index (PI) (P <0.05, r = 0.21) and renal resistive index (RI) (P <0.05, r = 0.20). The percentage of crescents correlates positively with PI(P <0.05, r = 0.21) and RI (P <0.05, r = 0.20). Classifying arteriolosclerosis in four groups according to a severity scale, from absence to severe, PI (P <0.05) and RI (P <0.01) were significantly different. In the post hoc analysis, the median values of PI and RI are significantly different in patients with severe arteriolosclerosis than others. Ultrasound examination is a non-invasive diagnostic technique used on patients with suspected or established renal disease. Our study shows a close correlation between kidney function, ultrasound parameters, and histological findings. Measurement of renal parenchymal resistance by ultrasound could be used in association with biopsy and glomerular function for the evaluation of renal damage in patients with glomerulonephritis.
Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy antonietta_gigante@yahoo.it.
Antonietta
A
Gigante
Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Biagio
B
Barbano
Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Francesca
F
Di Mario
Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Edoardo
E
Rosato
Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Marzia
M
Simonelli
Nephrology and Dialysis A Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Anna Rachele
AR
Rocca
Lupus Clinic, Rheumatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Fabrizio
F
Conti
Lupus Clinic, Rheumatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Fulvia
F
Ceccarelli
Department of Radiology, Oncology and Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Konstantinos
K
Giannakakis
Lupus Clinic, Rheumatology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Guido
G
Valesini
Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Rosario
R
Cianci
D050379:Arteriolosclerosis / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
Doppler ultrasound; arteriolosclerosis; glomerulosclerosis; renal pathology; renal resistive index