Impaired renal artery blood flow at transplantation is correlated to delayed onset of graft function

The Association Between Delayed Graft Function and Renal Resistive Index in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background and objectives

Delayed graft function (DGF) may increase the risk for kidney graft dysfunction. Renal resistive index (RRI) in Doppler ultrasonography is useful in measuring blood flow changes in kidneys which is indicative of tubulointerstitial damage. Most of the diseases in DGF etiology are related to tubulointerstitium and arteries of the kidneys. In this study, we investigated whether there is a relationship between delayed graft function and renal resistive index in kidney transplant recipients (KTR).

Materials and methods

Patients who underwent kidney transplantation were included in this retrospective study. KTR were divided into two groups as DGF (+) and DGF (−). Comparison of RRI values of DGF (+) and DGF (−) groups according to the measurements at different times.

Results

The findings showed that both RRI measurements (post-transplant in the first week and the end of the first year) of the DGF (+) group were higher than DGF (−) group (p=0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). The interaction of measurements and DGF did not have an effect on RRI (p>0.05).

Conclusion

The value of RRI in the DGF (−) group was lower than DGF (+) group in the first week after kidney transplantation.