RESISTIVE INDEX ON DOPPLER ULTRASOUND AFTER RENAL TRANSPLANTATION AS RENAL FUNCTION PREDICTOR

Background: Kidney transplantation significantly improves survival and quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease, yet graft dysfunction remains a considerable challenge. Early identification of at-risk patients is critical to preserving graft function and enhancing long-term outcomes. Doppler ultrasonography, particularly the assessment of the resistive index (RI), has gained prominence as a non-invasive tool to evaluate renal hemodynamics. Understanding the relationship between RI and kidney function markers may guide better clinical decision-making and post-transplant monitoring. Objective: This study aimed to assess renal function after kidney transplantation by evaluating RI and its correlation with kidney function outcomes. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 78 kidney transplant recipients at a tertiary care hospital. Demographic and clinical data, including age, gender, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive therapies, were recorded. Renal function was assessed at one and three months post-transplantation using RI, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and serum creatinine levels. Doppler ultrasonography was performed with standardized protocols, and RI was calculated from interlobar arteries. Patients were categorized into two groups based on RI (<0.8 and ≥0.8). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v26, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: The study population included 64.1% males, with the majority aged 31–45 years (44.9%). At one month, the mean RI was 0.74 ± 0.05, which decreased to 0.64 ± 0.04 by three months. eGFR improved from 60.5 ± 12.3 to 65.2 ± 14.1 mL/min/1.73 m², while serum creatinine decreased from 1.2 ± 0.2 to 1.1 ± 0.2 mg/dL. Patients with RI <0.8 had significantly higher eGFR at both one and three months compared to those with RI ≥0.8 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: RI served as a reliable non-invasive predictor of renal function in the early post-transplant period. Lower RI values were associated with improved renal outcomes, emphasizing the importance of continuous RI monitoring alongside conventional markers to optimize post-transplant care and patient prognosis.