Authors: R Farina F Pennisi M La Rosa C Puglisi A Di Benedetto G Campisi G Mazzone G C Ettorre
Publish Date: 2007/02/22
Volume: 112, Issue: 1, Pages: 64-73
Abstract
Power Doppler ultrasound US with timeintensity curves was used to study renal graft function both in the absence of disease and with complications acute tubular necrosis and chronic rejection in an attempt to identify pathognomonic patterns Timeintensity curves allow representation of the kidneys’ washin and washout phases after intravenous administration of sonographic contrast materialFiftysix asymptomatic renal transplant patients 36 men and 20 women 19 of whom had altered creatinine clearance levels were studied by power Doppler US with timeintensity curves followed by biopsy Ten asymptomatic patients with normal creatinine clearance levels were used as controlsTimeintensity curve analysis enabled identification of three groups of patients group A consisting of 27 patients showing peak enhancement between 50 and 65 s from intravenous administration of contrast material group B consisting of 16 patients with peak enhancement between 135 and 235 s group C consisting of three patients with peak enhancement between 100 and 130 sData showed significant variations according to renal graft function no abnormality acute tubular necrosis or chronic rejection Although confirmation by a larger series is required our findings appear to indicate pathognomonic patterns in patients with chronic rejection and acute tubular necrosis
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