Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound examination has been a routine examination and monitoring method following renal transplantation.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of color Doppler ultrasound in monitoring hemodynamic parameters of the transplanted kidney.
METHODS: Sixty-one patients of allograft renal transplantation were divided into 3 groups of which 35 patients in normal group, 22 in acute rejection group, and 4 in chronic rejection group. Conventional ultrasound examination combined with color Doppler flow image (CDFI) and power Doppler image (PDI) was performed with each objects to observe construction, blood perfusion and measure the hemodynamic parameters of various vessels in transplanted kidney.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Swelling, renal parenchyma thickening and echo enhancement were demonstrated in acute rejection group. The bound between cortex and medullary substance was blurring. CDFI and PDI indicated that the blood signal was reduced in renal parenchyma, especially in relaxing period. The peak of frequency spectrum of renal arterial vessels was high in systole period, but less spectrum or no signals in relaxing period, even some seemed singlet. The resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) rose up obviously in different vessels. The kidney turned to be small, echo enhancement and the bound was not clear in chronic rejection group. CDFI and PDI showed the internal diameter was decreased; vessel branches were rare and interrupted. The flow rate was apparently descent both in relaxing and systole periods. The priming volume was reduced RI and PI obviously heightened. As a non-invasive method, ultrasound can be used in early observation of the blood perfusion of the transplanted kidney without trauma. The function status of the kidney could be relaxed by measuring hemodynamic parameters of different vessels.