Renal perfusion parameters measured by contrast‐enhanced ultrasound in healthy dogs demonstrate a wide range of variability in the long‐term

• Published in: Veterinary radiology & ultrasound Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 201 - 209
• Main Authors: Liu, Daisy J.X., Hesta, Myriam, Stock, Emmelie, Bogaerts, Evelien, Broeckx, Bart J.G., Saunders, Jimmy H., Vanderperren, Katrien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-03-2019
• Subjects: canine; kidney; microbubbles; perfusion; variation; kidney; canine; microbubbles; perfusion; variation
• ISSN: 1058-8183; 1740-8261
• DOI: 10.1111/vru.12690

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound may be helpful for detecting early renal microvascular damage and dysfunction in dogs. However, before this noninvasive imaging method can be tested as an early‐stage screening tool in clinical patients, an improved understanding of long‐term variation in healthy animals is needed. In this prospective, secondary, longitudinal, serial measurements study, variability of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound renal perfusion parameters was described for eight healthy dogs, using seven time points and a period of 83 weeks. Dogs were sedated with butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg), and contrast‐enhanced ultrasound of each kidney was performed after an intravenous bolus injection of a microbubble contrast agent (0.04 mL/kg). Time‐intensity curves were created from regions‐of‐interest drawn in the renal cortex and medulla. Intensity‐related parameters representing blood volume and time‐related parameters representing blood velocity were determined. A random‐effects model using restricted maximum likelihood was used to estimate variance components. Within‐dog coefficient of variation was defined as the ratio of the standard deviation over the mean. Time‐related parameters such as time‐to‐peak, rise and fall time had lowest within‐dog variability. Intensity‐related parameters such as peak enhancement, wash‐in and wash‐out area under the curve, total area under the curve, and wash‐in and washout rates had high within‐dog variability (coefficient of variation > 45%). Authors therefore recommend the use of time‐related parameters for future studies of renal perfusion. Within‐dog variability for bilateral kidney measurements was extremely low, therefore contrast‐enhanced ultrasound may be particularly useful for detecting unilateral changes in renal perfusion. Future studies are needed to compare contrast‐enhanced ultrasound findings in healthy dogs versus dogs with renal disease.