Ultrasonographic measurement of kidney‐to‐aorta parameters in Whippets

Abstract

In a previous study, an ultrasonographic method to assess kidney size in dogs as a ratio of kidney length to aortic luminal diameter (KL/AoD ratio) was proposed. The main limitation of this method was the wide range of normal values (5.5‐9.1), which resulted in poor sensitivity and specificity. The aim of this prospective, observational, reference interval study was to determine whether the KL/AoD normal cut‐off values in a single breed (Whippets) would have a narrower range than the previously reported normal reference ranges. The influence of sex, age, weight, and side on kidney length (KL) and of sex, age, weight, and scanning plane (longitudinal vs transversal) on aortic luminal diameter (AoD) were also investigated. Thirty‐six clinically healthy Whippets (16 males, 20 females) without ultrasonographic renal lesions were included in this study. The 95% confidence interval of mean KL/AoD was found to be narrower than the previously reported range (ie, 6.3‐6.9 versus 5.5‐9.1). This was considered to be especially notable in that the KL in this breed exhibits marked sexual dimorphism. The KL/AoD ratio did not differ between right versus left sides or male versus female sexes in Whippets (P > .05). Findings from the current study provided KL/AoD ratio normal reference range cut‐off values for future use in Whippets and supported the use of breed‐specific KL/AoD ratio values for characterizing abnormal renal size in other canine breeds.

Quantitative studies on B‐mode ultrasound and point shear wave elastography of kidneys in nonazotemic dogs

“…In our study, a positive correlation between Ao, age, and body weight was observed, which is consistent with earlier findings 39,40 . The Ao value was slightly lower than the value reported by Mareschal et al 37 .…”

“…37 (5.5-9.1), which was considered wide and inaccurate. 40 However, our study found a narrower and more aligned L:Ao ratio, consistent with recent reports in healthy dogs aged 6 to 18 months, 39 in Whippets, 40 and in healthy adult mongrel dogs in India. 46 Furthermore, the L:Ao ratio is negatively correlated to age, as the aging process is associated with the inevitable loss of functional units of the kidney, potentially explaining the negative correlation.…”

“…In the present study, a low positive correlation was observed between B and body weight, 42 whereas a high positive correlation was found between Ao and body weight. 39,40 As the denominator Ao had a relatively greater influence when body weight values changed, the B:Ao ratio showed a negative correlation with body weight.…”

Doppler ultrasonographic measurements of the lateral digital palmar artery in pregnant mares

“…The ultrasound probe was positioned over the neurovascular bundle on the palmarolateral aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joint at the level of the lateral palmar articular recess of the fetlock (Figure 1). 16 The LPDA of each forelimb was initially identified using transversal scans and then assessed using longitudinal scans since previous studies suggested that transversal scans are more prone to be affected by multiple refraction artifacts that reduce their quality 19–21 . During the examination, each operator was careful not to apply excessive pressure, causing compression of the LPDA walls.…”

Ultrasonographic kidney length-to-abdominal aortic diameter for the diagnosis of feline chronic kidney disease: A preliminary study

“…Available at www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.16/May-2023/26.pdf whose normal range is 5.50-9.10 [8]. However, due to the wide range and non-specificity of this value due to various canine body sizes, many studies have recently reported a canine breed-specific K/AO for Whippet [9] and Miniature Schnauzer [10]. At present, only one study has reported the K/AO for normal cats ranging between 9.80 and 12.60 [11].…”