J Vet Sci.  2020 Jul;21(4):e58. 10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e58.

Can distinction between the renalcortex and outer medulla onultrasonography predict estimatedglomerular filtration rate in caninechronic kidney diseases?

• Lee S
• Hong S
• Kim S
• Oh D
• Choen S
• Choi M
• Yoon J

• KMID: 2504883
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e58

Abstract

Background
Quantitative evaluation of renal cortical echogenicity (RCE) has been tried anddeveloped in human and veterinary medicine.
Objectives
The objective of this study was to propose a method for evaluating RCEquantitatively and intuitively, and to determine associations between ultrasonographic renalstructural distinction and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in canine chronickidney disease (CKD).
Methods
Data were collected on 63 dogs, including 27 with normal kidney function and 36CKD patients. Symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine concentrations were measuredfor calculating eGFR. RCE was evaluated as 3 grades on ultrasonography images accordingto the distinction between the renal cortex and outer medulla. The RCE grade of each kidneywas measured.
Results
There was a significant difference in eGFR between the group normal and CKD (p< 0.001). As mean of RCE grades (the mean values of each right and left kidney's RCE grade)increases, the proportion of group CKD among the patients in each grade increases (p <0.001). Also, severity of RCE (classified as "high" if any right or left kidney evaluated as RCEgrade 3, "low" otherwise) and eGFR is good indicator for predicting group CKD (p < 0.001).
Conclusions
The degree of distinction between the renal cortex and the outer medulla isclosely related to renal function including eGFR and the RCE grade defined in this study canbe used as a method of objectively evaluating RCE.

Keyword

Canine chronic kidney disease; renal cortical echogenicity; cortex; outer medulla; eGFR