Renal Artery Resistive Index and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD], may affect many organs and systems, especially the kidney, as well as the liver. While NAFLD’s renal impacts can be evaluated via the estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], its effects on renal hemodynamic changes can be monitored with renal resistive index [RRI]. Our aim in this study is to evaluate RRI and Materials and methods: A total of 69 patients with NAFLD and 50 age and gender-matched healthy controls were included. The basic clinical and laboratory parameters of patient and control groups were assessed and recorded. Results: In the patient group, the RRI was observed as 0.64±0.06 and eGFR value was 86±52 [mL/min/1.73m2], while in the control group the RRI was 0.61±0.05 and eGFR was 95.40±20.21 [mL/min/1.73m2]. Compared to the control group, the RRI and eGFR values were significantly different in the patient group [PRRI=0.003 and PeGFR=0.025]. There was a negative correlation between the RRI and eGFR [r=-0.347, P=0.003]. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that the optimum RRI cut-off value for patients with NAFLD is 0.62, with 65% sensitivity and 60% specificity [p=0.002]. There was an independent relationship between the RRI and eGFR according to the linear regression analysis [β=-0.301, P=0.015]. Conclusion: This study shows that RRI may be an indicator of renal functions such as eGFR in patients with NAFLD.

Current Insights into Renal Resistive Index Significance in Kidney and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common metabolic disorder with systemic manifestations [125]. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis correlate with subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction assessed by LV mass index, diastolic function, pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness but also with renal function evaluated by GFR and RRI [125,126]. Compared to healthy subjects, patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have increased RRI and reduced GFR.…”

“…Compared to healthy subjects, patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease have increased RRI and reduced GFR. More than that, an RRI greater than 0.62 correlates with a high risk of renal impairment secondary to liver disease [126].…”

Current Insights into the Significance of the Renal Resistive Index in Kidney and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common metabolic disorder with systemic manifestations [122]. Hepatic steatosis and fibrosis correlate with subclinical cardiovascular dysfunction assessed by the LV mass index, diastolic function, pulse wave velocity, and carotid intima-media thickness, and also with renal function as evaluated by GFR and the RRI [122,123]. Compared to healthy subjects, patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have an increased RRI and reduced GFR.…”

“…Compared to healthy subjects, patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease have an increased RRI and reduced GFR. Moreover, an RRI greater than 0.62 correlates with a high risk of renal impairment secondary to liver disease [123].…”