Parameters of Doppler Ultrasound at Five Days Posttransplantation as Predictors of Histology and Renal Function at One Year

Introduction: In our center, a Doppler ultrasound (DU) is performed at 5 days after transplantation. The normal upper limit of flow velocity (FV) in the renal artery is 200-250 cm/s. The resistance index (RI) is considered elevated when >0.8. Elevation of the RI can be shown in all the forms of graft dysfunction. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of the DU to predict the prognosis of graft function and histological damage at 1 year. Methods: We examined a retrospective cohort of patients undergoing renal transplantation between January 2004 and May 2007. The renal function was evaluated with serum creatinine measurements and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimates by the quadratic Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study equation. The biopsy specimen was evaluated according to the Banff 1997 classification. Results: The overall average age was 35 years, and 58% of the subjects were men. Eight cases (25.8%) showed abnormal DU. The Delta among those with normal DU was -0.94 versus 0.27 ± 0.39 with abnormal DU (P < .005). There was no significance as far as the biopsy at 1 year. Conclusions: Renal DU allows physicians to suspect complications at the first posttransplantation year. It shows a tendency to elevated blood pressure, as well as increased deterioration of renal function over the first year.