Renal elastography measurements in children with acute glomerulonephritis

The aim of this study was to compare the acoustic radiation force impulse elastography (ARFI-e) values of the renal cortical parenchyma in children with acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) and healthy children, and to determine a cut-off point for the diagnosis of AGN.

This prospective study included 30 children with biopsy-proven AGN and 30 healthy children. All the children underwent renal ARFI-e measurements. Values were obtained from the upper, middle, and lower zones of the right kidney parenchyma. A total of nine ARFI-e measurements (three from each zone) were made. Statistical analyses were conducted of the mean elastography values (MEVs) of the children in both groups.

In the patient group, the MEVs measured from the upper, middle and lower zones of the right kidney were 3.42±0.42 m/s, 3.45±0.45 m/s, and 3.39±0.39 m/s (average, 3.42±0.34 m/s), respectively. In the healthy control group, the MEVs measured from the upper, middle, and lower zones of the right kidney were 2.85±0.63 m/s, 2.85±0.68 m/s, and 2.86±0.66 m/s (average, 2.85±0.57 m/s), respectively. The MEVs in all zones were significantly higher in the patient group than in the healthy group (P<0.001). The cut-off values determined to predict AGN in the upper, middle, and lower zones of the kidney were 2.74 m/s (sensitivity, 96.67%; specificity, 46.67%), 2.71 m/s (sensitivity, 96.67%; specificity, 53.33%), and 2.81 m/s (sensitivity, 93.33%; specificity, 56.67%), respectively.

The ARFI-e technique can be considered as a non-invasive, easily applicable, auxiliary method for the early diagnosis of AGN.