Evaluation of renal arterial resistive index in patients with extrahepatic cholestasis.

OBJECTIVE

Biliary obstruction has been shown to cause acute renal failure. The Renal Resistive Index (RRI) has been recognized to be an important index for evaluating changes in renal plasma flow and renal damage in cholestatic patients. We aimed to investigate the effects of cholestasis on renal hemodynamics in patients with extrahepatic cholestasis by RRI.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The prospective study included patients with extrahepatic cholestasis due to benign biliary stricture, choledocholithiasis, or periampullary tumor between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022. Renal and liver function tests, as well as renal doppler ultrasound for RRIs, were conducted before and after cholestasis treatment.

RESULTS

Patients who experienced cholestasis resolution after treatment showed lower cholestasis enzymes and bilirubin values and higher glomerular filtration rates compared to pre-treatment values. RRI values significantly decreased in patients with resolved cholestasis compared to pre-treatment levels (p=0.009). Patients with malignant cholestasis had higher RRI values than those with benign cholestasis (p=0.006). Bilirubin levels were higher (p=0.001), and glomerular filtration rates were lower (p=0.046) in patients with malignant cholestasis compared to those with benign cholestasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute renal injury in cholestatic patients can be demonstrated non-invasively by RRI and is reversible once cholestasis has resolved. Patients with benign cholestasis had lower RRI values than those with cholestasis due to periampullary tumors.