Radiology, Vol 183, 441-444, Copyright © 1992 by Radiological Society of North America
Renal blood flow in neonates: quantification with color flow and pulsed Doppler US
MO Visser, JO Leighton, M van de Bor and FJ Walther
University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Color flow and pulsed Doppler ultrasound measurements of renal artery blood
flow were compared with cardiac output in 22 preterm and 19 full- term
healthy neonates. Renal arteries were insonated 3-5 mm from the abdominal
aorta at an angle of less than 15 degrees. Vessel diameter was estimated
from color flow diameter. Total renal blood flow increased significantly (P
less than .001) with advancing birth weight and gestational age, because of
increased vessel diameter, but flow velocity did not. The mean (+/- 1
standard deviation) value for both right and left renal artery blood flow
was 21 mL/min/kg +/- 5, and the mean proportion of cardiac output to the
kidneys was 16.1% +/- 3.7. Seven preterm infants with a symptomatic patent
ductus arteriosus had increased cardiac output values (444 mL/min/kg +/-
45) and reduced right (15 mL/min/kg +/- 7) and left (16 mL/min/kg +/- 7)
renal artery blood flow, with 6.6% +/- 2.0 of cardiac output directed to
the kidneys. These values normalized after closure of the ductus. This
study provides normative data for renal artery blood flow in neonates
during the first week of life.
