Contrast enhancement ultrasound of renal perfusion in dogs with acute kidney injury

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound to assess changes in renal perfusion in dogs with acute kidney injury. Materials and Methods: The left kidney of each dog in two groups was examined using contrast-enhanced ultrasound: Group A consisted of 16 healthy dogs and Group B consisted of 12 dogs with acute kidney injury. Results: All dogs in Group A showed the same sequence of wash-in and wash-out. In Group B the distribution of contrast media showed a similar cortical phase to healthy dogs, but a faster time to maximal medullary enhancement. Group B showed increased medullary peak intensity and medullary area under the curve compared to Group A. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses showed vascular changes especially in the medulla, with more rapid medullary vascularisation and increased medullary perfusion. These results were interpreted as medullary congestion in dogs with acute kidney injury. Clinical Significance: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound represents an easy to perform, safe, and non-invasive method to detect changes in renal perfusion in dogs with acute kidney injury.