Association of Intrarenal Resistive Index with Different Stages of Diabetic Nephropathy

Background/Objective: Intrarenal resistive index"n(RI) is used commonly for evaluation and prediction"nof renal diseases, but its use is little explored in the"nprediction of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We used"nDoppler analysis to determine whether intrarenal RI"nis related to different stages of diabetic nephropathy."nPatients and Methods: Fifty-seven diabetic patients"nin three equal groups of different stages of DN (stage"n1,2,3) and 19 nondiabetics as the control group were"nincluded. RI of interlobar arteries was determined"nusing Siemens G50 in three poles of each kidney and"nthe mean of them was assumed as intrarenal RI for"neach case."nResults: The mean of intrarenal RI was 63.1±5.6 in"nthe control group, 59.8±2.2 in DN stage 1, 61.4±5.8 in"nDN stage 2 and 82.4±11.1 in DN stage 3. There is no"nsignificant difference in RI between the control, DN"nstage 1 and DN stage 2 groups (P value>0.05). There"nis only significant increase in RI in DN stage 3 (P"nvalue <0.001). Using R.O.C curve cut off point of 0.71"nfor RI with the sensivity of 84.2% and specificity of"n94.7% can be used for prediction of end stage diabetic"nnephropathy."nConclusion: According to this study, intrarenal RI"nis not useful for prediction of early stages of diabetic"nnephropathy.