Role of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease and its Correlation with Serum Creatinine Level

Objective: We aimed to study the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its correlation with serum creatinine level. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective cross sectional study conducted in the ultrasound department of Dr. Ziauddin Hospital Clifton campus, Karachi from April 6, 2017 to October 6, 2017 for a period of six months. A total of 200 patients with CKD and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) determined to be < 60 ml/min were included in this study. Blood tests were gathered from the chosen patients, serum creatinine estimation was done for those patients and they underwent ultrasonography on the same day to assess echogenicity, parenchymal thickness, cortical thickness, and longitudinal length. This information was noted in the pro forma. Results: The average age of the patients was 54.62±13.3 years. Mean serum creatinine was significant among echogenicity grades [p=0.0005]. Mean parenchymal thickness was also significant among echogenicity grades (p=0.0005). Mean longitudinal length was also significant among echogenicity grades (p=0.0005). Mean corticomedullary distinction was also significant among echogenicity grades (p=0.0005). A statistically significant highly positive correlation was observed between serum creatinine and cortical echogenicity grading (r=0.915 P = 0.0005). Conclusion: The best sonographic parameter that correlates with serum creatinine is renal cortical echogenicity and its grading in comparison to longitudinal length, parenchymal thickness, and cortical thickness in patients of CKD. Since renal cortical echogenicity has the advantage of being irreversible in comparison to serum creatinine levels, it can be used as a parameter of renal function.