[RESISTIVE INDEX - A POSSIBLE SUBTLE INDEX OF KIDNEY DYSFUNCTION IN PRE-HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS]

The phenomenon of "masked hypertension" is a diagnostic challenge for physicians. The renal resistance index is a radiological index that expresses damage to the renal blood vessels. The literature regarding the relationship between the renal resistance index and primary kidney disease (as a cause of hypertension) or kidney disease as a result of hypertension is low and limited.

The aim of this study is to examine the reliability of the renal resistive index as a means of detecting masked hypertension.

Respondents were recruited at random, those who were found within normal and normal-high blood pressure ranges were included in the study. A renal ultrasound and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed, and anthropometric measures were assessed. A statistical analysis compared groups according to their blood pressure clinical category and the presence of masked hypertension versus normal.

No significant difference was found between the study groups in the renal resistance indices.

The renal resistive index is not an appropriate tool for assessing the presence of masked hypertension in patients with in-clinic pre-hypertension.

The results of the study were consistent with previous studies that question the clinical use of the renal resistive index. There is no room for using the renal resistive index as a tool to assess the likelihood of masked hypertension in patients with in-clinic pre-hypertension.