Ultrasonographic study and Doppler flow velocimetry of maternal kidneys and liver in low-risk pregnancy

• Published in: Radiologia brasileira 2015-06, Vol.48 (3), p.135-142
• Main Authors: Daher, Cibele Helena, Gomes, Andrea Cavalanti, Kobayashi, Sergio, Cerri, Giovanni Guido, Chammas, Maria Cristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original; RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING
• ISSN: 0100-3984; 1678-7099; 1678-7099
• DOI: 10.1590/0100-3984.2013.1822

Longitudinal study with B-mode ultrasonography and Doppler ultrasonography of maternal kidneys and liver in low-risk pregnancy, to establish and quantify normality parameters, correlating them with physiological changes. Twenty-five pregnant women were assessed and selected to participate in the study, each of them undergoing four examinations at the first, second, third trimesters and postpartum. Findings during pregnancy were the following: increased renal volume, pyelocaliceal dilatation with incidence of 45.4% in the right kidney, and 9% in the left kidney; nephrolithiasis, 18.1% in the right kidney, 13.6% in the left kidney. With pyelocaliceal dilatation, mean values for resistivity index were: 0.68 for renal arteries; 0.66 for segmental arteries; 0.64 for interlobar arteries; 0.64 for arcuate arteries. Without pyelocaliceal dilatation, 0.67 for renal arteries; 0.64 for segmental arteries; 0.63 for interlobar arteries; and 0.61 for arcuate arteries. Portal vein flow velocities presented higher values in pregnancy, with mean value for maximum velocity of 28.9 cm/s, and 22.6 cm/s postpartum. The waveform pattern of the right hepatic vein presented changes persisting in the postpartum period in 31.8% of the patients. Cholelithiasis was observed in 18.1% of the patients. Alterations in renal volume, pyelocaliceal dilatation, nephrolithiasis, cholelithiasis, changes in portal vein flow velocity, alterations in waveform pattern of the right hepatic vein, proved to be significant.