Duplex doppler evaluation of distal intrarenal arteries in urinary tract diseases of dogs

Abstract

The study was performed on 38 dogs to evaluate the utility of renal Doppler in the diagnosis of urinary tract affections. The dogs were divided into three groups viz., group I (healthy dogs), group II (dogs with renal failure) and group III (dogs with urinary obstruction). In all the dogs B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography were performed and in group II dogs ultrasound guided renal biopsy was also obtained to reach at final diagnosis. In group II, USG showed 100% sensitivity but very low specificity (14.28%), whereas in group III both sensitivity and specificity were 100%. There was no difference in the mean RI and PI of left and right kidneys. Renal cortical vascularity was reduced in group II, whereas there was no change in renal cortical vascularity in group III. The mean RI and PI of arcuate or interlobar vessels of group II dogs were significantly higher than that of groups III and I. The study concluded that both RI and PI increased in non-obstructive renal diseases; however, these indices had limited value in urinary obstruction in dogs.