Colour Doppler and Biomarkers Utility for Renal Damage due to Congenital Hydronephrosis

OBJECTIVE: To determine colour doppler and serum biomarkers spectrum in children with congenital hydronephrosis. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, West China 2nd University Hospital of Sichuan University and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Disease of Women and Children (Sichuan University), China, from January to December 2017. METHODOLOGY: A total of 95 children with hydronephrosis were selected as case group. According to the degree of hydronephrosis, the patients were divided into mild hydronephrosis group, moderate hydronephrosis group, and severe hydronephrosis group. Forty children with normal renal function were selected as normal comparison group. Peak systolic velocity (Vmax), end diastolic velocity (Vmin), resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), and serum cystatin C (CysC), β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), and 1-microglobulin (β1-MG) of all subjects in both groups were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The Vmax, Vmax of main renal artery (MRA) and interlobar renal artery (IRA) in case group were lower than those of normal group (all p<0.001). RI of MRA and IRA in case group were higher than those of normal control group (both p<0.001). There were no significant differences in the PI of MRA and IRA between the two groups (p=0.700, and 0.250 respectively). The levels of serum CysC, β2-MG and α1-MG in normal control group, mild hydronephrosis group, moderate hydronephrosis group, and severe hydronephrosis group were significantly different (all p<0.001), and the levels of serum CysC, β2-MG, α1-MG were also different in children with different degrees of hydronephrosis. CONCLUSION: Combined detection of colour doppler and serum biomarkers CysC, β2-MG and α1-MG in the diagnosis of renal damage in congenital hydronephrosis is feasible and reliable.