Abnormal renovascular resistance in dogs with diabetes mellitus: correlation with glycemic status and proteinuria

Present study was conducted with the objectives of determining the renal vascular resistance in dogs with diabetes mellitus and to study the correlation between the indices of renovascular resistance with glycemic status, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and proteinuria in dogs with diabetes mellitus. This study was conducted on seventeen diabetic dogs and ten apparently healthy dogs. Increased renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were observed in diabetic dogs as compared to healthy dogs. Systemic hypertension and proteinuria were observed in 10 and 3 out of 17 diabetic dogs, respectively. Significant positive correlation was observed between the indices of renovascular resistance and fasting blood glucose levels and between the indices of renovascular resistance and serum glycated hemoglobin levels. No correlation was observed between the indices of renovascular resistance and SBP as well as the indices of renovascular resistance and proteinuria. As the indices of renovascular resistance correlate significantly with glycemic status, they can be used as the early marker for kidney damage in diabetic patients. Among these indices renal PI was found to be more sensitive than renal RI.