Studies published so far using ultrasound-based elastography in the kidneys, lack to prove a clear relationship between kidney shear wave speed (KSWS) and renal disease progression. Taking into account that the kidney is a highly vascularized organ, the present study aims to find a relationship between KSWS and vascular factors (blood pressure [BP], arterial stiffness). Our study included 38 diabetic kidney disease patients (mean age 56.52 ± 16.12 years, 19 female, 19 male). KSWS, an indicator of renal stiffness, was measured using point Shear Wave Elastography (pSWE; Siemens Acuson S2000). In every patient, we recorded BP, and we measured aortic augmentation index (AAI) and brachial pulse wave velocity (PWV), using oscillometry. We found statistically significant indirect correlations of KSWS with indicators of arterial stiffness, such as PWV (r = –.41, p = .036), and AAI (r = –.37, p = .031). We found also an indirect correlation of KSWS with diastolic BP (r = –.65, p = .02) and systolic BP (r = –.54, p = .008). We found no correlation of KSWS with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, stage of diabetic retinopathy, or glycated hemoglobin. Our study shows that high BP and the progression of arteriosclerosis (high PWV and AAI), leads to a decrease of renal stiffness. Thus, it seems that KSWS is influenced by renal blood flow, rather than other factors, such as albuminuria or chronic kidney disease stage.

中文翻译：

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糖尿病肾病患者使用弹性成像测量肾硬度是否主要受血管因素的影响？

迄今为止发表的使用基于超声的肾脏弹性成像的研究缺乏证明肾脏剪切波速度 (KSWS) 与肾脏疾病进展之间的明确关系。考虑到肾脏是一个高度血管化的器官，本研究旨在寻找 KSWS 与血管因素（血压 [BP]、动脉僵硬度）之间的关系。我们的研究包括 38 名糖尿病肾病患者（平均年龄 56.52 ± 16.12 岁，19 名女性，19 名男性）。KSWS 是肾硬度的指标，使用点剪切波弹性成像 (pSWE；Siemens Acuson S2000) 进行测量。我们记录了每位患者的血压，并使用示波法测量了主动脉扩张指数 (AAI) 和肱动脉脉搏波速度 (PWV)。我们发现 KSWS 与动脉僵硬度指标之间存在统计学上显着的间接相关性，例如 PWV (r = –.41, p = .036) 和 AAI (r = –.37, p = .031)。我们还发现 KSWS 与舒张压 (r = –.65, p = .02) 和收缩压 (r = –.54, p = .008) 之间存在间接相关性。我们发现 KSWS 与估计的肾小球滤过率 (eGFR)、尿白蛋白/肌酐比值、糖尿病视网膜病变分期或糖化血红蛋白没有相关性。我们的研究表明，高 BP 和动脉硬化的进展（高 PWV 和 AAI）会导致肾硬度降低。因此，似乎 KSWS 受肾血流量的影响，而不是其他因素，如蛋白尿或慢性肾病阶段。我们发现 KSWS 与估计的肾小球滤过率 (eGFR)、尿白蛋白/肌酐比值、糖尿病视网膜病变分期或糖化血红蛋白没有相关性。我们的研究表明，高 BP 和动脉硬化的进展（高 PWV 和 AAI）会导致肾硬度降低。因此，似乎 KSWS 受肾血流量的影响，而不是其他因素，如蛋白尿或慢性肾病阶段。我们发现 KSWS 与估计的肾小球滤过率 (eGFR)、尿白蛋白/肌酐比值、糖尿病视网膜病变分期或糖化血红蛋白没有相关性。我们的研究表明，高 BP 和动脉硬化的进展（高 PWV 和 AAI）会导致肾硬度降低。因此，似乎 KSWS 受肾血流量的影响，而不是其他因素，如蛋白尿或慢性肾病阶段。