Duplex Sonography of Normal Renal Allografts

Abstract

Thirty-five patients with normal renal allografts as well as 10 healthy volunteers with normal native kidneys were examined by duplex sonography. Blood flow measurements were performed in the main renal artery as well as in segmental, interlobar and arcuate arteries. In both groups the normal range of variation in blood flow was defined by using the resistive index (RI). Doppler wave forms and RI of main renal arteries were both similar to those of their branches. In renal allografts as well as in native kidneys the blood flow pattern showed a rapid up-slope in systole followed by a gradual down-slope in early diastole, with a persistent flow throughout diastole. In addition, there was no significant difference in the RI between allografted and native kidneys. The interobserver variability was less than 10 per cent. The mean RI was 0.68 using all data points. Vascular rejection in 11 patients could be discriminated significantly (p<0.001). Duplex sonography is useful in evaluating renal blood flow. This simple and non-invasive technique seems to be useful in long-term follow-up of renal allograft recipients.