title: The Renal Arterial Resistance Index Predicts Worsening Renal Function in Chronic Heart Failure Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The renal arterial resistance index (RRI) is a Doppler measure, which reflects abnormalities in the renal blood flow. The aim of this study was to verify the value of RRI as a predictor of worsening renal function (WRF) in a group of chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 266 patients in stable clinical conditions and on conventional therapy. Peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity of a segmental renal artery were obtained by pulsed Doppler flow, and RRI was calculated. Creatinine serum levels were evaluated at baseline and at 1 year, and the changes were used to assess WRF occurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During follow-up, 34 (13%) patients showed WRF. RRI was associated with WRF at univariate (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.07-1.20) as well as at a forward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.16; p = 0.005) including the other univariate predictors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantification of arterial renal perfusion provides a new parameter that independently predicts the WRF in CHF outpatients. Its possible role in current clinical practice to better define the risk of cardiorenal syndrome progression is strengthened.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Cardiothoracic Department, Policlinic University Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iacoviello
authors.affiliation: School of Cardiology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monitillo
authors.affiliation: School of Cardiology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.affiliation: School of Cardiology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Citarelli
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Bari Local Health Service, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doronzo
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Bari Local Health Service, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antoncecchi
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Bari Local Health Service, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puzzovivo
authors.affiliation: School of Cardiology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: School of Cardiology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Silvia
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lattarulo
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Bari Local Health Service, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Massari
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Bari Local Health Service, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caldarola
authors.affiliation: School of Cardiology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco Matteo
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ciccone
keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Glomerular hemodynamics; Systemic disease and the kidney