ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the value of vascular index(VI) in renal functionevaluation after renal transplantation by superb microvascular imaging(SMI).Methods Ultrasound and clinical data of 115 renal transplant recipients were collected:32 cases had good recovery of renal function after surgery(group A);35 cases of abnormal renal function caused by diseases or unexplained fluctuations in Scr,but the renal function was normal during the follow-up(group B);48 cases with abnormal renal function,Scr increased continuously(group C).The correlation between VI of renal cortex and Scr was analysed. Results The VI of renal cortex in group A,B and C were (33.51 ± 3.26)%,(31.64 ± 4.83)%,(25.58 ± 6.07)%, respectively.There were significant differences between VI in group A and C,and between group B and C (P<0.01),but there was no significant difference between group A and B( P > 0.05). There was significant negative correlation between VI of renal cortex and Scr in group C ( rs= -0.90, P < 0.01), there was no significant correlation between RI in the interlobular artery of kidney and Scr( rs= -0.22, P > 0.05).Conclusions When renal function is normal,VI is maintained at a high level.When renal function declines,VI decreases.VI can reflect the renal cortex blood flow,indirectly reflect the glomerular filtration function,and provide a reliable indicator for clinical evaluation of renal allograft function.