Quantitative Assessment of Muscular Stiffness in Children With Chronic Kidney Disease Using Acoustic Radiation Force...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Musculoskeletal Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Muscle weakness is a common complication in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Assessing muscle strength noninvasively is crucial for managing CKD patients.
• Quantitative ultrasound elastography offers a potential method for evaluating muscle properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of quantitative analysis of rectus femoris muscle (RFM) stiffness using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) ultrasound elastography in children with CKD.
• To compare RFM muscle stiffness between children with CKD and healthy controls.
• To explore the correlation between RFM muscle stiffness and muscle strength.

Main Methods:

• ARFI ultrasound elastography was used to measure shear wave velocities (SWVs) in the RFM of 23 children with CKD and 22 healthy children.
• Muscle strength of thigh extensors was assessed using a handheld dynamometer.
• Interobserver agreement was evaluated using the interclass correlation coefficient.

Main Results:

• Mean SWV values of the RFM were significantly lower in the CKD group (1.23-1.26 m/s) compared to the healthy group (1.62-1.65 m/s) (P < 0.001).
• RFM SWV values did not correlate with handheld dynamometry measurements of muscle strength.
• The interobserver agreement for ARFI measurements was good (ICC = 0.65).

Conclusions:

• ARFI ultrasound elastography is a feasible and noninvasive imaging method for assessing muscle stiffness in the RFM.
• This technique demonstrates reduced muscle stiffness in children with CKD, suggesting its utility in evaluating muscle weakness associated with the condition.