Purpose: To evaluate the influence of proteinuria on renal Doppler sonographic (US) measurements in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with or without diabetes mellitus (DM).
Methods: Renal resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and maximum kidney length were measured by US in 113 patients suffering from CKD without DM (non-DM CKD patients) and in 120 patients with diabetic nephropathy (DM patients). Other data collected were sex, age, body mass index, blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary protein level, and medical history. The effect of proteinuria on RI and PI was evaluated using single regression analyses, multiple regression analyses, and comparison of regression lines.
Results: Single and multiple regression analyses revealed that RI and PI in the two subgroups and in the entire group of patients were correlated with urinary protein level (p < 0.05). Comparison of regression lines of each subgroup showed statistically significant differences in two regression intercepts concerning these indices in relation to urinary protein level (p < 0.001, RI: 0.71 in non-DM CKD patients versus 0.76 in DM patients, PI: 1.39 in non-DM CKD patients versus 1.60 in DM patients) (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Renal RI and PI can reflect damages related to proteinuria and DM.
Copyright © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.