Renal duplex Doppler ultrasound in patients with HCV related liver cirrhosis

To study the renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) measured by renal Doppler in various stages of liver cirrhosis and their values to detect cirrhotic patients at risk for developing the hepatorenal syndrome. This study included 60 cirrhotic patients divided into 4 groups (15 patients each): compensated liver cirrhosis (group A), diuretic responsive ascites (group B), refractory ascites (group C), hepatorenal syndrome (group D) and ten healthy persons as the control group (E). All patients were subjected to detailed history taking and clinical examination. Laboratory investigations included simple urine analysis, complete blood picture, liver function tests, blood urea and serum creatinine, serum sodium and serum potassium, 24-hour urine collection for sodium concentration, creatinine concentration and protein concentration. Ultrasonographic examination and renal duplex Doppler ultrasonography were undertaken to assess the RI and PI. The RI of both interlobar and arcuate arteries was significantly higher in all patient groups than in the control group (p