Repeatability of Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound to Determine Renal Cortical Perfusion

Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) and Ultra-Microangiography (UMA) in Critically Ill Children with Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an acute condition of impaired kidney function with decreased glomerular filtration rate, which results in dysregulation in volume, electrolyte, and acid-base equilibrium. AKI can be a life-threatening condition and can also lead to chronic kidney disease. It is important to diagnose AKI early in the course of the disease or to predict its development, as this can influence therapeutic decisions, outcome, and, consequently, the prognosis. In clinical practice, an elevated serum creatinine concentration remains the most common laboratory indicator for diagnosing AKI. However, due to the delay in its rise, creatinine levels are often insensitive and inaccurate for early diagnosis. Novel biomarkers of kidney tubular injury and the renal angina index have shown promise in predicting AKI earlier and more accurately. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and ultra-microangiography (UMA) are radiological methods that can quantify renal microperfusion and may be able to predict the development of AKI. They have not yet been used for quantifying renal perfusion in children with risk factors for developing AKI. Further research is needed to compare these sonographic techniques with the renal angina index and emerging kidney injury biomarkers for predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) in both children and adults.

Renal cortex blood perfusion contrast-enhanced ultrasound: Assisting diagnosis and treatment of renal artery disease

Renal cortical blood perfusion CEUS can evaluate the structure and microcirculation of renal cortex, which is expected to provide a safer and more convenient evaluation system for clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of early renal artery disease.

Standardized evaluation methodology for renal cortical blood perfusion in elderly patients using contrast-enhanced ultrasound: A Chinese expert consensus (2024 edition)

As a sensitive and non-invasive method for assessing changes in renal cortical blood perfusion in the elderly, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can indirectly reflect changes in kidney filtration and reabsorption function, thus providing feasibility for early evaluation of renal function changes. However, significant differences exist among researchers in terms of operational methods, contrast agent selection, post-data analysis, and many other aspects, leading to substantial heterogeneity in results. This hinders horizontal comparisons and greatly limits the clinical application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for evaluating renal cortical blood flow perfusion. Based on the latest domestic and overseas literature and discussions with clinical experts, this consensus provides recommended guidelines for the evaluation of renal cortical blood flow perfusion using contrast-enhanced ultrasound. It is hoped that this consensus will promote a better understanding of CEUS among medical practitioners at all levels and standardize the examination of renal cortical blood flow perfusion with CEUS.