Quantitative analysis of renal vascularization in fetuses with urinary tract obstruction by three-dimensional power-Doppler

Abstract

To evaluate the applicability of 3-dimensional evaluation of renal vascularization for predicting postnatal renal function in fetuses with suspected urinary obstruction. Fetuses were evaluated by 3-dimensional power-Doppler histogram, and vascular indices were estimated. Depth between the probe and the renal cortex was also evaluated. Postnatal follow-up was obtained in all cases and the main outcome was renal impairment. Twenty-three fetuses with urinary dilatation (cases) and 73 with normal renal morphology (controls) were included in the current study. Five (21.7%) cases developed renal impairment. Vascularization index and vascularization and flow index were significantly lower in fetuses that developed renal impairment compared with those with normal renal function (P = .009 and P = .036, respectively). The 3 vascular indexes correlated with depth. Percentage of depth-corrected vascularization index and vascularization flow index were lower in fetuses developing postnatal renal failure. Fetal renal vascularity (vascularization index and vascularization and flow index) was significantly lower in fetuses that developed renal impairment.