Value of ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute rejection of a kidney transplant
Hidalgo Togores, L.; Cárcamo Valor, P.; Navarro Sebastían, J.; García-Matres, M.J.; Manuel Cózar, J.; Martínez-Piñeiro, J.A.
Archivos Espanoles de Urologia 42(9): 867-872
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-0614 PMID: 2696440 Document Number: 334964
To determine the usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute renal graft failure, 48 renal transplants were retrospectively studied. The characteristic morphologic signs of acute rejection (AR) were compared with the histologic analysis of the graft using material obtained from percutaneous renal biopsy and/or transplantectomy. From the ultrasound scanning performed at the time the histologic specimens were taken, the following four easily identifiable signs were used for the assessment: 1) increased size, 2) increased volume and echo negativity of pyramids, 3) sinus compression, and 4) patchy cortex/sinus destructuring. Correlation of each sign with the anatomopathological data revealed a high sensitivity and predictive value but low specificity for ultrasound in the diagnosis of AR. Its true predictive value will depend on the demonstration of various signs simultaneously, with the advantage that, unlike other techniques, it is noninvasive and can be performed serially.