Optimal Blood Suppression Inversion Time Based on Breathing Rates and Heart Rates to Improve Renal Artery Visibility in Spatial Labeling with Multiple Inversion Pulses: A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an optimal blood suppression inversion time (BSP TI) can boost arterial visibility and whether the optimal BSP TI is related to breathing rate (BR) and heart rate (HR) for hypertension subjects in spatial labeling with multiple inversion pulses (SLEEK). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 10 volunteers and 93 consecutive hypertension patients who had undergone SLEEK at 1.5T MRI system. Firstly, suitable BSP TIs for displaying clearly renal artery were determined in 10 volunteers. Secondly, non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography with the suitable BSP TIs were performed on those hypertension patients. Then, renal artery was evaluated and an optimal BSP TI to increase arterial visibility was determined for each patient. Patients' BRs and HRs were recorded and their relationships with the optimal BSP TI were analyzed. RESULTS: The optimal BSP TI was negatively correlated with BR (r1 = -0.536, P1 < 0.001; and r2 = -0.535, P2 < 0.001) and HR (r1 = -0.432, P1 = 0.001; and r2 = -0.419, P2 = 0.001) for 2 readers (kappa = 0.93). For improving renal arterial visibility, BSP TI = 800 ms could be applied as the optimal BSP TI when the 95% confidence interval were 17-19/min (BR1) and 74-82 bpm (HR1) for reader#1 and 17-19/min (BR2) and 74-83 bpm (HR2) for reader#2; BSP TI = 1100 ms while 14-15/min (BR1, 2) and 71-76 bpm (HR1, 2) for both readers; and BSP TI = 1400 ms when 13-16/min (BR1) and 63-68 bpm (HR1) for reader#1 and 14-15/min (BR2) and 64-70 bpm (HR2) for reader#2. CONCLUSION: In SLEEK, BSP TI is affected by patients' BRs and HRs. Adopting the optimal BSP TI based on BR and HR can improve the renal arterial visibility and consequently the working efficiency.

Denervação simpática renal e qualidade de vida / Renal sympathetic denervation and quality of life

INTRODUÇÃO: A denervação simpática renal (DSR) é estratégia promissora no tratamento da hipertensão arterial resistente. Nenhum estudo avaliou o efeito da DSR na qualidade de vida em nosso meio, objetivo deste estudo. MÉTODOS: O questionário EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) foi utilizado para avaliar a qualidade de vida de 10 pacientes submetidos a DSR, sendo aplicado antes e 3 meses após o procedimento. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 47,3 ± 12 anos e 90% dos pacientes eram do sexo feminino. A pressão arterial basal foi de 187 ± 37,5/104 ± 18,5 mmHg e o número de anti-hipertensivos utilizados foi de 7,6 ± 1,3. Antes do procedimento, o valor atribuído ao estado de saúde foi de 37,5 ± 22,7, aumentando aos 3 meses para 70,5 ± 20,9 (P = 0,01). No seguimento, além da diminuição do número de anti-hipertensivos (7,6 ± 1,3 vs. 6 ± 2,2; P = 0,05), foi observada tendência a queda dos níveis da pressão sistólica (187 ± 36 mmHg vs. 170 ± 44 mmHg; P = 0,10) e da pressão diastólica (104 ± 18 mmHg vs. 98 ± 20 mmHg; P = 0,20). A melhora do estado de saúde resultou da redução de problemas relacionados a mobilidade, atividades usuais, dor/desconforto e ansiedade/depressão. A magnitude da redução da pressão arterial não se associou à melhora da qualidade de vida em todos os pacientes. Por outro lado, aqueles que experimentaram redução do número de anti-hipertensivos relataram melhor estado de saúde. CONCLUSÕES: Hipertensos resistentes apresentam baixos escores de estado de saúde. A DSR apontou melhora da qualidade de vida na maioria dos pacientes. Estudos maiores são necessários para confirmar benefícios consistentes.

BACKGROUND: Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) is a promising strategy in the treatment of resistant hypertension. No studies have assessed the effect of RSD on quality of life in our country, which was the aim of this study. METHODS: The EuroQol-5 Dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) was chosen to evaluate quality of life in 10 patients undergoing RSD, and it was applied before and 3 months after the procedure. RESULTS: Mean age was 47.3 ± 12 years and 90% of the patients were female. Baseline blood pressure was 187 ± 37.5/104 ± 18.5 mmHg and the number of antihypertensive drugs was 7.6 ± 1.3. Before the procedure, the value assigned to health status was 37.5 ± 22.7, increasing at 3 months to 70.5 ± 20.9 (P = 0.01). In the follow-up, in addition to a decrease in the number of antihypertensive drugs (7.6 ± 1.3 vs. 6 ± 2.2; P = 0.05), a trend towards reduced levels of systolic blood pressure (187 ± 36 mmHg vs 170 ± 44 mmHg; P = 0.10) and diastolic blood pressure (104 ± 18 mmHg vs 98 ± 20 mmHg; P = 0.20) was observed. Health status improvement resulted from a reduction of problems related to mobility, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The magnitude of blood pressure reduction was not associated with improved quality in all of the patients. On the other hand, those who had a decrease in the number of antihypertensive drugs reported a better health status. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with resistant hypertension have poor health status scores. RSD improved quality of life in most patients. Further studies are required to confirm consistent benefits.

Assessment of renal and hepatic hemodynamics in cirrhosis of liver.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Investigators have documented an increase in renal artery resistance in cirrhotic patients. We studied the hepatic and renal hemodynamics by color Doppler in patients with liver cirrhosis in relation to the presence and severity of ascites. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in a large public hospital on 33 patients with cirrhosis of liver and 11 healthy control subjects. Eleven patients had no ascites, 12 had diuretic-responsive ascites and 10 had refractory ascites. The resistance index (RI) of the hepatic artery was measured by color Doppler on its main branch and renal artery RI was measured on the main renal, interlobar and cortical arteries of the right kidney. RESULTS: Considering intraobserver variabilities, coefficient of variation for RI was 2.3%-7.8% (mean [SD] 4.2% [1.8%]). Hepatic artery RI were 0.68 (0.07), 0.68 (0.1), 0.81 (0.04), 1.0 (0.12) in control subjects and cirhotics with no ascites, responsive ascites and refractory ascites, respectively. Renal RI was significantly higher than in control subjects at all three levels in patients with responsive and refractory ascites, being higher in those with refractory than responsive ascites. Renal RI decreased from hilum towards the outer parenchyma, in cirrhotics with no ascites and responsive ascites but not in refractory ascites. CONCLUSION: Hepatic artery RI is higher in cirrhotics and is related to presence and severity of ascites. In control subjects and patients with no ascites or responsive ascites the renal RI decreased from hilum to the outer parenchyma.

Duplex assessment of the renal artery and its internal branches in normal adult egyptian population

This work aimed at standardization of the normal renovascular Duplex parameters in adult Egyptian population. For this purpose, twenty apparently healthy subjects were chosen. Thorough clinical assessment and basic laboratory investigations were done for them and proved to be normal. Abdominal ultrasonography was done for all the studied group with assessment of the renal sonographic dimensions. Satisfactory visualization of both renal arteries by Duplex sonography could be accomplished in 100% of the group examined. Several Duplex parameters were recorded including diameter of the main renal artery, maximum, minimum and mean velocities in this segment of he vessel as well as velocity time integral, resistivity and pulsatility indices in the same segment. Maximum and minimum velocities as well as resistivity and pulsatility indices in the distal intrarenal arteries were also reocrded. The results of this study showed that the diameter of the main renal artery ranged from 0.41-0.53 cm with a mean of 0.48 +/- 0.03 cm [mean +/- SD]. Maximum velocity in the main renal artery ranged from 51-84 cm/sec with a mean of 62.1 +/- 8.3 cm/sec. Minimum velocity in the same segment ranged from 17-37 cm/sec with a mean of 24.2 +/- 4.5 cm/sec. Mean velocity in the same segment ranged from 31-53 cm/sec with a mean of 37 +/- 5.7 cm/sec. Velocity integral [VTI] ranged from 0.130-0.406 cm/sec with a mean of 0.262 +/- 0.09 cm/sec. Proximal resistivity index [RI] ranged from 0.36-0.71 with a mean of 0.61 +/- 0.05. Proximal pulsatility index [PI] ranged from 0.74-1.36 with a mean of 1.025 +/- 0.135. Maximum velocity in the distal intrarenal artery ranged from 15-50 cm/sec with a mean of 26.2 +/- 9.1 cm/sec. Minimum velocity in the same segment of the vessel ranged from 6-19 cm/sec with a mean of 10.5 +/- 3.4 cm/sec. Distal resistivity index [DRI] ranged from 0.51-0.69 with a mean of 0.59 +/- 0.04. Distal pulsatility index [DPI] ranged from 0.77-1.30 with a mean of 0.970 +/- 0.115. No significant relationship could be found between clinical, laboratory or ultrasonographic findings and the Duplex parameters. These results can be considered the standard renovascular Duplex parameters in normal adult Egyptians