Ultrasound Imaging and Colour Doppler Studies in Familial Nephropathy Associated with Hyperuricemia (FNAH)

Abstract

FNAH is an inherited disease of unknown pathogenesis. By means of clearance techniques we have demonstrated that diminished renal plasma flow and increased renal vascular resistance may be primary pathogenic events in FNAH (1). Ultrasonography and two-dimension echo-color-doppler (2D ECD) are two methods that have been applied to the study of renal morphology and the intrarenal vascular bed, respectively. Sonography is routinely used for the study of kidney size (2). In addition, sonography allows the assessment of the parenchymal thickness and the cortico-medular echogenicity (3). Twodimensional ultrasound imaging and blood flow detection with color doppler are accepted methods to quantify intrarenal vascular resistance (4). In this study we have examined renal morphology and the intrarenal vascular bed in patients with FNAH.