Pulsatility and resistance indices in intrarenal arteries of normal adults

In order to establish the normal range of values of Pulsatility (PI) and Resistance (RI) Indices in the intrarenal vasculature, a study of 50 healthy volunteers (23 males, 27 females), divided into five groups of 10 according to age, was performed with Duplex Doppler ultrasound. Both kidneys were examined in all individuals and, in 12, indices were also compared between upper and lower poles of both kidneys. In addition, repeat examinations were performed in nine subjects on three different days, in order to assess the reproducibility of the method. No differences were found in the mean values of both indices between males and females, upper and lower poles, right and left kidneys. A statistically significant increase (p < 0.01, unpaired t-test) was demonstrated when the oldest age group (7th decade) was compared to the youngest age group (3rd decade). The method appeared remarkably reproducible for RI (4.2–7%), with wider variation in the PI (9.5–22.7%).