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Doppler sonographic renal resistance index in healthy children
A C Kuzmić1, B Brkljacić, D Ivanković
1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Zagreb, Croatia.
Insights
Doppler resistance indices (RIs) in healthy children are significantly higher in those under 6 years old compared to older children and adults. The RI value drops to adult levels around age 6.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Vascular Physiology
Background:
- Doppler resistance indices (RIs) are crucial for assessing intrarenal artery blood flow.
- Establishing age-specific normal values for RIs in children is essential for accurate diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine Doppler resistance index (RI) values in the intrarenal arteries of healthy children.
- To compare RI values across different pediatric age groups and with adults.
Main Methods:
- Color duplex Doppler sonography was performed on 163 healthy children and 58 healthy adults.
- Patients were categorized into three age groups: 2-<6 years, 6-16 years, and adults.
- Resistance indices (RIs) were measured and compared between the groups.
Main Results:
- Mean RI values were significantly higher in children aged 2-<6 years (0.705 ± 0.018) compared to older children (0.605 ± 0.029) and adults (0.604 ± 0.035).
- No significant difference in RI was found between children aged 6-16 years and adults.
- An RI threshold of 0.70, typically used for adults, is applicable to children over 6 years of age.
Conclusions:
- Intrarenal artery resistance indices are considerably higher in early childhood, reaching adult levels around age 6.
- The established adult RI threshold of 0.70 can be reliably applied to children older than 6 years.
- These findings aid in the non-invasive assessment of renal vascular health in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The objective of the study was to determine the values of Doppler resistance indices (RIs) in intrarenal arteries in healthy children. Color duplex Doppler sonography of intrarenal arteries was performed in 163 children and 58 adult patients, with the absence of clinical or laboratory pathologic changes of the urinary tract. All patients were classified following results of exploratory data analysis into three age groups: (a) 51 children between 2 and < 6 years of age; (b) 112 children 6-16 years of age; and (c) adults. The RIs were compared between different age groups. The mean RI +/- 1 SD values in group 1 were 0.705 +/- 0.018 (range 0.67-0.75), in group 2 0.605 +/- 0.029 (range 0.55-0.65), and in the adult group 0.604 +/- 0.035 (range 0.54-0.68). In the group of the youngest children (group 1), the RIs were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in comparison with the other group of children and the adult group. No statistically significant difference was observed between the group of children 6-16 years of age and the adult group. RI < 0.70 was noted in all children above 6 years of age; however, in younger children, RI > or = 0.70 was observed in 72.5% (37 of 51) of children. Resistance index in early childhood was considerably higher as compared with older children and the adult population: Apparently the RI value drops to adult level at approximately 6 years of age. The utilization of a threshold RI value of 0.70 for the increased renal vascular resistance in adults can also be applied to children over 6 years of age.