Prediction of renal allograft function with early Doppler ultrasonography

Doppler ultrasonography (USG) is an useful, noninvasive diagnostic tool for the management and follow-up of the transplanted kidney. However, it is believed that the value of Doppler USG is limited to discrimination of acute rejection episodes. We tested whether early Doppler USG findings were predictive of 1-month and 1-year allograft functions in noncomplicated renal transplant recipients (RTRs).

Resistive index (RI) and pulsatile index (PI) values obtained by doppler USG within the first week of transplantation were correlated with allograft function at 1 month and 1 year in 45 (10 women, 35 men, mean age: 27 years) noncomplicated cases. Patients with complications during the first posttransplant year were not included.

There was a negative correlation between both RI and PI with creatinine clearance values at 1 month and at 1 year posttransplant. There was a significant decline in allograft function among cases with either RI > or = 0.7 or PI > or = 1.1. Patients with impaired allograft function have higher RI and PI values.

Renal allograft survival is influenced by many factors. However, no reliable simple parameter has been identified to predict long-term outcome. Doppler USG performed during the early transplantation period with calculation of RI and PI may have a predictive value to forecast early and long-term outcomes of noncomplicated kidney transplants.