J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  1997 Dec;16(4):335-341.

Doppler Ultrasonography of Renal Transplant Dysfunction: Resistive Index vs. Serum Creatinine Level

• Seo YL
• Choi CS
• Yoon DY
• Kim DK
• Yi JG
• Kim HC
• Bae SH
• Lee S

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of Doppler resistive index(RI) in detection and differentiation of renal transplant dysfunction and to correlate RI with serum creatitnine level. MATERIALS & METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven Doppler sonograms were performed in 77 renal transplants. There were 59 normal allografts, 44 acute rejection, 12 acute tubular necrosis, 8 cyclosporin A toxicity, and 4 chronic rejection, which were proved pathologically or clinically. A mean RI was calculated from Doppler measurements at arcuate or interlobar arteries over three times. The serum creatinine level was obtained within 24 hours before or after Doppler sonography. We retrospectively evaluated the value of RI in detection and differentiation of renal transplant dysfunction and correlated RI with serum creatinine level.
RESULTS
The mean RI value was 0.59+/-0.07 for normal allograft, 0.70+/-0.10 for acute rejection, 0.86+/-0.13 for acute tubular necrosis, 0.70+/-0.14 for cyclosporin A toxicity, and 0.65+/-0.O7 for chronic rejection. Mean RI values in renal transplant dysfunction were elevated above those in normal group (p<0001). Although mean RI values in acute tubular necrosis were elevated above those in other abnormal groups, RI can neither identify the cause of transplant dysfunction, nor be correlated with serum creatinine level.
CONCLUSION
RI may be useful in detection of renal transplant dysfunction, however, our data indicate that RI is not useful in differentiation of transplant dysfunction, and is not correlated with serum creatinine level.

MeSH Terms

Allografts
Arteries
Creatinine*
Cyclosporine
Kidney Transplantation
Necrosis
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonography, Doppler*
Creatinine
Cyclosporine