COLOR DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY IN EARLY RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION FOLLOW-UP - RESISTIVE INDEX MEASUREMENTS VERSUS POWER DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY

OBJECTIVE. This study was designed to compare power Doppler images of perfusion with interlobar resistive index measurements obtained during the early monitoring of renal graft transplant to diagnose cortical p erfusion abnormalities and assess prognosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS, Thi rty-one patients underwent color Doppler sonography (4-7 MHz and 7-10 MHz) on day 6 +/- 2 after renal transplantation. Cortical vessel densi ty was assessed visually and classified as either normal or decreased. Twelve months after transplantation, the results of power Doppler ima ging and the levels of resistive index were reviewed in light of clini cal and laboratory findings, graft biopsy results, and functional outc ome. RESULTS. No significant relationship was observed among power Dop pler grades, levels of resistive index, and renal function. Power Dopp ler grades and resistive index levels failed to allow us to distinguis h between tubulopathy and rejection. However, we found a statistically significant relationship between renal function at 12 months after tr ansplantation and power Doppler grades (p = .04). CONCLUSION. This stu dy suggests that color Doppler sonography is insensitive in revealing and in allowing radiologists to differentiate the causes of graft dysf unction. However, power Doppler sonography allows a prediction of the functional recovery of the graft at 12 months after transplantation no t provided by resistive index levels.