Variation of Ultrasonic Renal Volume between Hypertensive and Non-Hypertensive Individuals in Relation to Body Size Parameters

BACKGROUND: Estimation of renal size is vital for the diagnosis of abnormal structural change on the kidneys due to the adverse effects of chronic diseases like hypertension. This study evaluated renal volume by ultrasound in relation to body size parameters, notably body mass index (BMI) and body surface area(BSA) in hypertensive and non-hypertensive individuals. METHODS: A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from February to September 2018 at the Radiology department of the Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC). The study included consecutively selected samples of 85 ambulatory hypertensive patients and 60non-hypertensive controls recruited consecutively on voluntary basis. After receiving verbal consent, each subject underwent abdominal ultrasound examination and length, width and thickness of both kidneys were measured and used for estimation of renal volume. The statistical evaluation included independent samples t-tests for mean differences with regard to ultrasonic renal measurements between hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups. RESULTS: A total of 145 adults aged 16 – 80 years (mean ±SD=44 ±17) participated in the study. In the hypertensive group, mean renal volume of 97.7cm(3) for the right kidney and104.4cm(3) for the left kidney whereas in the control group, it was 101.1cm(3) for the right and 111.8 cm(3) for the left kidney. The mean right renal volume to BSA ratio was 58.2cm(3)/m(2) in hypertensive group, while it was 62.6cm(3)/m(2) among the control group (p=0.076). The mean left renal volume to BSA of the patients was 62.2cm(3)/m(2) and significantly (p=0.012) lower than that of the non-hypertensive group, which was 69.3 cm(3)/m(2). CONCLUSION: Slightly smaller bilateral renal volume among hypertensive patients as compared the controls was obtained.