Doppler evaluation of renal resistivity index in healthy conscious horses and donkeys

• Published in: PloS one 2020-02, Vol.15 (2), p.e0228741-e0228741
• Main Authors: Freccero, Francesca, Petrucelli, Marina, Cipone, Mario, Nocera, Irene, Sgorbini, Micaela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Animals; Arteries; Biology and Life Sciences; College football; Consciousness; Diagnostic imaging; Doppler effect; Electric properties; Equidae; Evaluation; Female; Flow velocity; Harness racehorses; Horses; Kidney - diagnostic imaging; Kidney - physiology; Kidneys; Medicine and Health Sciences; Research and Analysis Methods; Statistical analysis; Teaching hospitals; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Ultrasound; Ultrasound imaging; Veins & arteries; Veterinary medicine
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228741

The renal resistive index (RRI) is used as a measurement of downstream resistance in arteries. The aim of this study was to assess the RRI of the arcuate arteries by pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography in healthy conscious horses and donkeys, and to verify any differences related to age, breed, bodyweight (BW) or body condition (BCS). Thirty-three healthy conscious horses and nine donkeys had their systolic and diastolic flow velocities at the level of the arcuate arteries estimated by pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound, and the RRI was calculated. The relationship of RRI with age, breed (Trotters vs. other breeds), bodyweight (BW), and body condition score (BCS) were evaluated. PW Doppler evaluation of RRI was successfully applied in most of the horses, but to date not in the donkeys. In horses, median RRI values for the right kidney (0.58±0.006) were statistically higher than for the left (0.51±0.006). For the donkeys the values were comparable. There was no significant difference in RRI between horses younger or older than 15 years, and between breeds in horses. No correlation with age, BW or BCS was found in either horses or donkeys.