Renal dysfunction in liver cirrhosis: renal duplex doppler us vs. scintigraphy for early identification

ABSTRACT

Renal arteries of 43 patients with cirrhosis and normal renal function tests were compared with 15 age and gender matched normal subjects as a control group using color Doppler sonography and Tc- 99m DTPA scintigraphy. The patients were categorized into three groups A [14], B [14] and C [15] according to a modified Child's classification that assesses the severity of liver cirrhosis. Doppler sonography can detect an increase in renal vascular resistance in patients with moderately severe cirrhosis [Child B] when renography was normal. It was concluded that Doppler sonography can be used for earlier identification of cirrhotic patients with a higher risk of impeding renal failure earlier than renography and may also be used to guide therapeutic approaches