Short- and long-term repeatability of intrarenal resistive index in the pig

Evaluation of the diagnostic value of the renal resistive index as a marker of the subclinical development of cardiorenal syndrome in MMVD dogs

Introduction:

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs inevitably causes renal dysfunction. These interactions are known as the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). The main aims of the study were to evaluate whether renal resistive index (RRI) may be useful as a non-invasive marker in subclinical stage of kidney injury in dogs with MMVD and to compare RRI with SDMA and Cyst C.

Methods:

Forty-four dogs were divided into two groups: control—15 healthy dogs and the heart group—29 dogs with MMVD (ACVIM class Cc). Study protocol included: anamnesis, clinical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography, chest radiography, abdominal ultrasonography with measurements of the renal resistive index (RRI), urine, and blood analysis.

Results:

The RRI in the heart group was significantly higher 0.725 ± 0.035 versus control group 0.665 ± 0.028 (p < 0.00085). The RRI cut-off point in dogs with stable chronic heart failure (CHF) under 8 years is 0.775, in older 0.64. RRI was similar in MMVD dogs treated with ACE-I + furosemide and dogs treated ACE-I + torasemide + pimobendan + spironolactone. There was no correlation between RRI and SDMA or Cyst C.

Conclusion:

RRI is more sensitive than creatinine, SDMA and Cyst C to reveal kidney injury in MMVD dogs class Cc younger than 8 years.

An assessment of the utility and repeatability of the renal resistive index in horses

The aim of this study was to establish the value of the renal resistive index (RI) of intrarenal arteries in healthy warmblood non-racing horses of different ages to assess the influence of physiologic factors and repeatability of measurement. The kidney ultrasonography examination was performed in three age groups: 15 foals, 15 adults and 15 elderly horses. The procedure was performed in unsedated standing animals. RI values were measured using pulsed-wave Doppler at the medial part of each kidney in the intrarenal arteries. To evaluate repeatability, all measurements were repeated two hours after the first examination. Statistical analysis of the relationship between groups was carried out using Fisher’s test. The relationship between the RI value and the physiological parameters was evaluated using linear regression. Repeatability of measurements was determined based on the Bland-Altman plot. The mean RI value in the studied horses was 0.48 ± 0.05 in the left kidney and 0.49 ± 0.05 in the right kidney. There were no statistically significant differences between the RI values in foals and adult horses. The elderly horses had a significantly higher RI value. Pulse pressure was the only physiological parameter affecting the RI value. The repeatability coefficient was 0.089 for the right kidney and 0.09 for the left kidney. The presented result suggest that elderly healthy horses have higher RI values than younger animals, which should be taken into account in clinical practice. The arterial pulse pressure should also be considered when interpreting RI values. The measurements have high repeatability, but in the authors’ opinion, this procedure is time consuming and requires experience.

Renal arterial resistive index response to intraabdominal hypertension in a porcine model

OBJECTIVE

The abdominal compartment syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition with frequent renal involvement. There are few if any means of inferring subclinical effects before organ dysfunction. Because intrarenal pressure correlates with renal sonographic indices in other renal diseases, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between increasing intraabdominal hypertension and renal vascular flow velocities in a porcine model using renal Doppler ultrasound.

DESIGN

Animal study.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Eight anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, well-hydrated, 30-kg female Yorkshire pigs.

INTERVENTIONS

Intraabdominal hypertension was induced by instillation of warmed intraperitoneal saline through a midline laparoscopic port. Intraabdominal pressure (IAP) was continuously monitored directly from the peritoneum and indirectly from the bladder. IAP was varied from 0 to 50 mm Hg in increments of 5 mm Hg. At each IAP level, gray-scale, color, and spectral Doppler renal arcuate artery ultrasound was obtained and resistive index (RI) and peak airway pressure calculated.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Excellent agreement between direct and indirect IAP was found (bias, 0.032 mm Hg; 95% limits, -5.5 to 5.6 mm Hg). A linear relationship between RI and indirect IAP was observed and was defined by the regression equation: RI = 0.553 + 0.0104 x bladder pressure. There was a trend toward different RIs between left and right kidneys (p = .052) at the same IAP. RI varied in a linear fashion at low peak airway pressure and demonstrated an inflection point with steeper subsequent slope after peak airway pressure of 30 cm H2O. RI values rapidly returned to near baseline after abdominal decompression.

CONCLUSIONS

In this model, the renal artery RI correlated strongly and linearly with the severity of intraabdominal hypertension, making renal Doppler ultrasound a potential noninvasive screening tool for the renal effects of intraabdominal hypertension. Further studies are warranted.

The reproducibility and short-term and long-term repeatability of sonographic measurement of splenic length

This study was undertaken to evaluate the reproducibility (interobserver variability), and the short-term and long-term repeatability (intraobserver variability) of sonographic measurement of the maximum and mean splenic length. Ultrasound (US) measurements of the splenic length were performed in 43 subjects, ages 30 to 59 years old (mean age = 44.5 years). Each subject attended three US sessions: baseline examination and 30 min and 8 weeks after the baseline examination. In each session, US examinations of the spleen were performed and the splenic length was measured by four operators. In each examination, the splenic length was measured 3 times, and the maximum and mean values were obtained. The overall reproducibility of the measurements of maximum and mean splenic lengths were 67% and 89%, respectively. The short-term repeatability in measuring the maximum and mean splenic lengths were 87% and 94%, respectively, whereas the long-term repeatabilities were 61% and 76%, respectively. The reproducibility and short-term and long-term repeatability of the measurement of mean splenic length were higher than those of the maximum splenic length. In the mean and maximum splenic length measurement, the short-term repeatability was higher than the long-term repeatability. The results suggested that the mean splenic length has a higher reliability in sonographic measurement and should be used in routine clinical practice. Measurement errors should be considered when evaluating the changes of splenic length in serial US examinations, particularly in long-term follow-up.