Resistive indices in the evaluation of infants with obstructive and nonobstructive
pyelocaliectasis. J Ultrasound Med 1999;18(5):357-61.
Distinction between obstructive and non-obstructive
pyelocaliectasis with duplex Doppler sonography.
As prolonged renal obstruction induces hormonal alterations and thereby causes diffused vasoconstriction of the vascular bed, the visualisation of different patterns of blood flow is helpful in differentiating the obstructive from the non-obstructive
pyelocaliectasis.1,2,6 The availability of duplex Doppler sonography is apparently an attractive and well-reproducible adjunct to the partly invasive diagnostic procedures commonly used in the radiological assessment of renal obstruction.21
Objectives: To investigate whether normal pregnancy has a significant effect on intra!renal venous blood flow and to assess whether the physiological maternal pyelocaliectasis causes a measurable change in venous impedance indices in pregnant women.
Table 2 reveals the mean venous impedance indices for kidneys of pregnant subjects, grouped according to presence and degree of pyelocaliectasis (hydronephrosis).
While evaluating the two theories postulated for explaining the pregnancy induced pyelocaliectasis i.e.
Pyelocaliectasis and intrarenal artery doppler indices in uncomplicated pregnancies.
The ultrassonography showed hepatic steatosis, splenomegaly and signs of nephropathy (hidronephrosis and severe
pyelocaliectasis).
