• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.47-52
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• 2017

Purpose: Renal ultrasonography has been widely used in children with renal disease. However, the relationship of renal echogenicity with renal pathology and function in children is not well known. Method: Ultrasound examination was performed in 75 patients undergoing renal biopsy for suspected renal disease in Konkuk University Medical Center from August 2005 to November 2015. We compared renal echogenicity to pathologic findings and renal function. Renal echogenicity was scored as 0 to 2 by comparing adjacent liver echogenicity. Three histologic characteristics were evaluated: glomerular changes, interstitial infiltration or fibrosis, and tubular atrophy. These were graded as 0 to 3, according to increasing severity. Laboratory results included urine albumin excretion and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Results: Among pathologic findings, renal echogenicity revealed a positive correlation with interstitial infiltration or fibrosis (r=0.259, P=0.025), and with tubular atrophy (r=0.268, P=0.02). Renal echogenicity and glomerular changes were not correlated. Renal echogenicity showed a positive correlation with microalbuminuria (r=0.283, P=0.014), but a negative correlation with eGFR (r=-0.352, P=0.002). Conclusion: Increased renal echogenicity suggested severe interstitial infiltration or fibrosis and tubular atrophy among the pathologic findings. Moreover, increased echogenicity is correlated with increased urine albumin excretion and decreased eGFR. Echogenicity on ultrasonography is useful for determining the status of renal pathology and function.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2001

Present study was undertaken in order to document early renal ultrasonographic changes of gentamicin nephrotoxicosis and to show the value of renal ultrasonography as a contributory means of early diagnosis of acute renal failure in dogs. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with six treatments in two blocks (gentamicin-treated & saline-treated). Acute renal failure was induced by toxic dosage of gentamicin (30 mg/kg) and saline solution sham equivalent in volume to that of the toxic dosage of gentamicin (1.5-3ml). Subjective visualization of increased renal cortex was visible as homogenous echoes that were hypoechoic relative to the surrounding tissues, whereas the renal medulla was anechoic to slightly hypoechoic. After treatment, the renal cortex was hyperechoic relative to the surrounding tissue. Increased renal cortex echogenicity was associated with significant nephrotoxicosis and was superior to serum creatinine elevation in nephrotoxicosis detection. Urine GGT was superior to other clinicopathological data utilized in the diagnosis of nephrotoxicosis. Based on the above results, increased renal cortex echogenicity seemed to be of use in detecting of acute renal failure.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.186-189
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• 2005

For the assessment of the clinical application of histogram on internal parenchymal organs, ultrasonography with a multi-frequency transducer was taken. We scanned in the region of right cranial abdomen for both liver and right kidney, and left cranial abdomen for liver, spleen and left kidney in 9 normal Beagle dogs. The data from histogram examined in a region of interest centered on each picture element of B-mode images at the same depth were compared among liver, renal cortex, spleen, cortex and medulla of each kidney. The right renal cortex showed significantly lower echogenicity than parenchyma of liver by $15{\%}$. Spleen was more echogenic than the cortex of the left kidney by $23{\%}$, and liver was more echogenic than the left renal cortex by $30{\%}$. Renal cortex was more echogenic than medulla by $47{\%}$ and $65{\%}$ on the right and left side, respectively (p<0.05). The mean (${\pm}SD$) values calculated echogenicity were $46.2{\pm}12.3\;(95\%$ confidential interval (CI), 41.0 to 55.0) and $53.4{\pm}12.1\;(95\%$ CI, 47.0 to 55.1) in in the right renal cortex and liver parenchyma, $65.0{\pm}11.8\;(95\%$ CI, 57.9 to 71.0) and $51.0{\pm}16.9\;(95\%$ CI, 42.8 to 54.1) in splenic parenchyma and renal cortex. And the mean values calculated echogenicity were $65.0{\pm}10.15\;(95\%$ CI, 60.1 to 71.5) and $52.0{\pm}9.4\;(95\$ CI, 43.8 to 60.3) in liver parenchyma and the left renal cortex, $54.5{\pm}18.3\;(95\%$ CI, 40.1 to 62.8) and $35.0{\pm}16.2\;(95\%$ CI, 24.2 to 43.6) in the left renal cortex and medulla. And the mean values calculated echogenicity were $55.0{\pm}14.4\;(95\%$ CI, 47.3 to 61.7) and $40.0{\pm}13.2\;(95\%$ CI, 34.3 to 46.7) in the right renal cortex and medulla, respectively. In addition, the echogenicity ratios were $0.86{\pm}0.11$ between the right renal cortex and liver parenchyma, $1.37{\pm}0.47$ between spleenic parenchyma and the left renal cortex, $1.30{\pm}0.19$ between liver parenchyma and the left renal cortex. All the values measured showed significant different (p<0.05). Ultrasound histogram is simple, useful and feasible to evaluate the sonographic architecture of the internal organs such as liver, spleen and kidney, quantitatively.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.58.1-58.11
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• 2020

Background: Quantitative evaluation of renal cortical echogenicity (RCE) has been tried and developed in human and veterinary medicine. Objectives: The objective of this study was to propose a method for evaluating RCE quantitatively and intuitively, and to determine associations between ultrasonographic renal structural distinction and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in canine chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Data were collected on 63 dogs, including 27 with normal kidney function and 36 CKD patients. Symmetric dimethylarginine and creatinine concentrations were measured for calculating eGFR. RCE was evaluated as 3 grades on ultrasonography images according to the distinction between the renal cortex and outer medulla. The RCE grade of each kidney was measured. Results: There was a significant difference in eGFR between the group normal and CKD (p < 0.001). As mean of RCE grades (the mean values of each right and left kidney's RCE grade) increases, the proportion of group CKD among the patients in each grade increases (p < 0.001). Also, severity of RCE (classified as "high" if any right or left kidney evaluated as RCE grade 3, "low" otherwise) and eGFR is good indicator for predicting group CKD (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The degree of distinction between the renal cortex and the outer medulla is closely related to renal function including eGFR and the RCE grade defined in this study can be used as a method of objectively evaluating RCE.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2021

Bartter syndrome is an autosomal recessive hypokalemic salt-losing tubulopathy, and classic Bartter syndrome is associated with mutations in the CLCNKB gene. While chronic hypokalemia is known to induce renal cyst formation in different renal diseases, renal cyst formation in Bartter syndrome is rarely reported. Russian six-year-old identical male twins were referred to our hospital for the evaluation of renal cysts, which were incidentally detected on abdominal sonography due to diarrhea. Both twins had shown symptoms of polydipsia, polyuria, and nocturia since they were one year olds. Vital signs including blood pressure were normal in both twins. Renal sonography revealed nephromegaly, increased echogenicity of renal cortex, and various sized multiple cysts in both kidneys for both twins. Laboratory findings included hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and metabolic alkalosis. Bartter syndrome with renal cysts were suspected. Genetic analysis for both twins confirmed a homozygous c.1614delC deletion on exon 15 of the CLCNKB gene, which was confirmed as a previously unreported variant to the best of our knowledge. They were managed with potassium chloride, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors. Metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and polyuria partially improved during the short course of treatment. This is the first report of a homozygous mutation in the CLCNKB gene in an identical twin, presenting with renal cysts.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2019

The ketogenic diet (KD) has been used as an effective antiepileptic therapy for intractable childhood epilepsy. However, various adverse effects have been reported with use of the KD. We report a case of a child who developed acute tubular necrosis subsequent to therapy with KD. A 5-year-old girl had myoclonic epilepsy with developmental delay. She was under the treatment with antiepileptic drugs since the age of 3 months and on the KD during the past 18 months. Proteinuria persisted intermittently with the initiation of the KD and subsequently increased in the past 2 months. She was admitted with intermittent mild fever, vomiting, and lethargy for the past 3-4 weeks. At the time of admission, she presented with hypertriglyceridemia, heavy proteinuria, renal Fanconi syndrome, and acute kidney injury. Renal sonography showed a marked increase in the size and parenchymal echogenicity of both kidneys. A renal biopsy revealed acute tubular necrosis accompanied by early interstitial fibrosis. After the withdrawal of the KD and supportive therapy, without changing other anticonvulsants and their dosages, improvement of renal function was observed. Proteinuria had disappeared after 1 month and kidney size returned to normal after 8 months. It is hypothesized that the KD can induce and/or aggravate the renal tubulointerstitial injury in some patients who are under the treatment with anticonvulsants.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.184-189
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• 2015

Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is one of the most well-known and important infectious renal diseases resulting from a prior infection with group A ${\beta}$-hemolytic streptococcus. The typical clinical characteristics of the disease reflect acute onset with gross hematuria, edema, hypertension and moderate proteinuria after the antecedent streptococcal infection. In children, usually PSGN is healed spontaneously but if it combines with fast progressing glomerulonephritis, it would be developed to chronic renal failure. Therefore, it is important to make a fast diagnosis and treatment by simple tools to predict the course and the prognosis of disease. Sonography is a simple tool for diagnosis but there is no typical renal sonographic finding in PSGN, so it is difficult to predict the course and the prognosis of disease by sonographic findings. In comparison between two cases of renal sonographic findings in PSGN, a patient who showed more increased echogenicity in more extended area of renal sonography had the severe results of renal pathology, prolonged treatment period and low serum C3 level. Here, we report the different findings of renal sonography and pathology depending on the degree of severity between two patients. Thus, it is necessary to gather more information from further studies to make a consensus about the relationship between the renal sonography and the prognosis of disease in PSGN.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2019

Renal cortical necrosis (RCN) is patchy or diffuse ischemic destruction of the renal cortex caused by significantly reduced renal arterial perfusion. It is a rare cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) and is associated with high mortality. Here, we review the case of RCN in a 15-year-old boy who developed AKI. A 15-year-old boy was referred to our hospital from a local hospital due to a sharp decrease in his renal function. He presented with acute flank pain, nausea with vomiting, and oliguria for the past two days. He had taken a single dose of antihistamine for nasal congestion. At our hospital, his peak blood pressure was 148/83 mmHg and he had a high body mass index of $32.9kg/m^2$. The laboratory data showed a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) of 28.4 mg/dL, a creatinine of 4.26 mg/dL, and a glomerular filtration rate estimated from the serum cystatin C of $20.2mL/min/1.73m^2$. Proteinuria (spot urine protein to creatinine ratio 1.66) with pyuria was observed. Kidney sonography showed parenchymal swelling and increased renal echogenicity. Due to rapidly progressing nephritis, steroid pulse therapy (750 mg/IV) was done on the second day of his admission and the patient showed complete recovery with normal renal function. However, the kidney biopsy findings revealed renal cortical hemorrhagic necrosis. Multifocal, relatively well-circumscribed, hemorrhagic necrotic areas (about 25%) were detected in the tubulointerstitium. Although RCN is an unusual cause of AKI, especially in children, pediatricians should consider the possibility of RCN when evaluating patients with rapidly decreasing renal function.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.215-218
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• 2008

A 2-year-old, female, Maltese dog (3.2 kg of body weight) was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Chungnam National University with vomiting, anorexia and depression. Twelve hours prior to the onset of clinical signs, the dog ingested some grape skins (about 60 g). Physical examination at the time of presentation showed peripheral edema and mucous pallor. Blood and blood chemical analysis revealed anemia and moderate azotemia with elevated blood urea nitrogen (107.2 mg/dl), creatinine (6.3 mg/dl) and hyperphosphatemia (11.3 mg/dl). Echogenicity of renal cortex were observred by ultrasonography. The dog was diagnosed as acute renal failure occurred by grape skin toxicosis. The dog was treated with supportive care such as fluid therapy, diuretics (furosemide) and phosphorus binder (almagate). A normal condition of blood and blood chemical findings and clinical signs was observed at five days after treatment, and prognosis is good to date.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2015

Introduction: This study investigated whether renal and bladder ultrasonography (RBUS) findings performed in children with the first incidence of febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) can predict UTI recurrence, high-grade vesicoureteral reflux (high-grade VUR), or acquired renal scarring (aRS). Methods: In all, 917 children who were admitted to our hospital from January 2001 to October 2010, owing to the first incidence of febrile UTI were enrolled in this study. All children underwent RBUS during admission. The mean follow-up was 7.9 months (standard deviation $[SD]{\pm}13.3$). UTI recurrence rates were calculated according to various clinical parameters. By using bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses, we determined whether age, sex, abnormal RBUS findings, abnormal dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan findings, or RBUS findings parameters were predictive of UTI recurrence, high-grade VUR, or aRS. Results: On RBUS, hydronephrosis and congenital anomaly of the kidney and urinary tract significantly predicted UTI recurrence. A small kidney, hydroureter, hydronephrosis, cortical thinning, and increased parenchymal echogenicity significantly predicted high-grade VUR. However, their odds ratios (OR) are low compared to normal RBUS findings (recurrent UTI: OR 0.432 and 0.354 vs. 0.934, respectively, high-grade VUR: .019, 0.329, 0.126, 0.058, and 0.188 vs. 2.082, respectively). No RBUS findings significantly predicted aRS. Recurrent UTI, high-grade VUR, and abnormal RBUS findings significantly predicted aRS (OR of 4.80, 4.61, and 2.58, respectively). Conclusion: RBUS is necessary to exclude severe congenital renal scarring, obstructive uropathy, and renal abscess at the first incidence of febrile UTI and is helpful in determining the need for subsequent clinical imaging.