Ultraschall Med 2008; 29 - OP_14_1
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1079982

Intrarenal color Doppler sonography in studying patients affected by systemic sclerosis

M Sperandeo 1, G D'Amico 1, G Sperandeo 2, ML Piattelli 1, S Muscarella 2, L Macarini 3, A Varriale 1, A De Cata 1, F Prigigallo 1, MA Annese 1, G Vendemiale 1
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, „Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza“ Hospital
  • 2Department of Radiology, „Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza“ Hospital
  • 3Department of Radiology, University of Foggia

Aim: Systemic sclerosis is a generalized disorder which affects the connective tissue of the skin and internal organs and is associated with alterations of the microvasculature. Scleroderma renal crisis involves almost 50% of patients with a 25% of which developing renal failure.

In our study we evaluated utility of intrarenal quantitative parameters (Resistive Index: R. I.; Pulsatility Index: P. I.) during renal color Doppler sonography, as possible prognostic indicators of renal involvement in systemic sclerosis.

Material and methods: In a period of 60 mounths, we examinated 78 patients (65 females and 13 males) affected by systemic sclerosis and 100 controls. All subjects underwent intrarenal color Doppler sonography with evaluation of R.I. and P.I. every 12 mounths.

We then correlated these parameters with renal functional values (creatinine clearance and GFR), microalbuminuria and urine test.

Results: In 52 patients (47 females and 5 males) in respect to controls R.I. (0.83±0.08 vs. 0.58±0.04) was significantly higher (p<0.05). There was no statistical difference in P.I. between patients and controls.

Conclusion: Even if our preliminary findings have to be confirmed in larger patient groups, our results suggest that evaluation of R.I. by color Doppler sonography in patients with systemic sclerosis could allow a selection of those patients at risk of developing renal vascular involvement and, by consequence, renal crisis as a complication of systemic sclerosis.