Purpose: To evaluate renal US findings in patients with nephropathia epidemica (NE) and to determine whether changes in these findings are related to the clinical course of NE.
Material and methods: Renal US was undertaken in 23 hospital-treated NE patients during the acute phase of their disease (first study). The second US study was performed 3-6 months later.
Results: The resistive index (RI) was abnormal in 12 patients and fluid collections (perirenal, pleural, pericardial, ascites) were found in 13 patients in the first study. Renal length decreased in every patient, cortical parenchymal thickness in 19 patients and RI in 18 patients from the first to the second studies. The mean change was significant in all parameters. Increased RI and presence of fluid collections in the first study as well as a greater change in length and RI between the first and the second studies were associated with high maximum daily urine excretion, substantial change in body weight between the anuric and polyuric phases, high maximum serum creatinine and urea concentration, high blood leukocyte count and low hematocrit value.
Conclusion: Renal US changes occurred in every patient with NE. The severity of the findings was associated with fluid volume overload and degree of clinical renal insufficiency.