Time-Dependent Doppler Ultrasonographic Findings in Transplanted Kidneys From Living Donors: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Introduction. Ultrasonography and color Doppler have been used extensively to evaluate transplanted kidneys. Several recent studies have suggested its value to assess renal transplant dysfunction, particularly in the early postoperative period. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the time-dependent changes in color Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) findings during the first 5 years after renal transplantation. Methods. Among a prospective cohort we evaluated the results of collar Doppler findings in renal allograft recipients over 5 years after transplantation. For this purpose we compared the DUS findings of kidney size, pulsatile index (PI), resistive index (RI) and renal artery flow before transplantation in living donor kidneys versus 6-12 months as well as 5 years after transplantation in 23 patients. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16. P value was set at .05. Results. The mean length of the transplanted kidney was 110.60 +/- 7.92 mm before transplantation in the living donors body versus 120.29 +/- 9.01 mm and 119.36 +/- 9.9 mm at 6-12 months versus more than 5 years after transplantation, respectively. Mean PI and RI were 1.00 +/- 0.14 and 0.60 +/- 0.05 before transplantation and 1.00 +/- 0.22 and 0.61 +/- 0.08 and 1.07 +/- 0.26 and 0.63 +/- 0.07 at 6-12 months versus more than 5 years after transplantation, respectively. There was no significant difference in mean PI and RI during the 5 years of the follow-up study. Mean length and anteroposterior diameter increased significantly at 6-12 months and 5 years after transplantation when compared with the results before transplantation (P < .05). No significant difference was present in Doppler findings of transplanted kidneys between 6-12 months and 5 years after transplantation. In conclusion we observed increasing kidney size after transplantation that remained constant during 5 year follow-up among renal allograft recipients.