Comprehensive Renal Doppler Sonographic Evaluation in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: A Large-Scale Case-Control Study from Northeastern Nigeria

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Pregnancy-induced hypertension was associated with a significantly greater mean renal volume (mean difference 71.7 cm³) and elevated main renal artery resistivity index compared to normotensive controls.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case-Control. Population: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (n=500). Intervention: Pregnancy-induced hypertension vs. Normotensive pregnant controls. Primary outcome: Mean renal volume (MD 71.7, 95% CI 65.2-78.2, p=<0.0001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is associated with significant renal enlargement and increased renovascular resistance, which can be effectively detected using non-invasive renal Doppler ultrasound. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess renal volumetric and Doppler ultrasound parameters in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension compared to normotensive pregnant controls.

Mohammed Mohammed; Tijjani Ibrahim; Zara Shettima; Abba Goni; Ali Abba; Umar Umar; Abubakar Farate; Ahmed Ahidjo

doi:10.82339/jrmt.vol7no1.108

April 24, 2026Journal of Radiation Medicine in the TropicsOpen Access

Comprehensive Renal Doppler Sonographic Evaluation in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: A Large-Scale Case-Control Study from Northeastern Nigeria

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key result

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is linked to ~72 cm³ greater renal volume and elevated resistivity index.

MD +71.7
95% CI 65.2-78.2
P<0.0001
n=500

Why the study?

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is associated with renal hemodynamic and structural alterations that may contribute to maternal morbidity.

Does pregnancy-induced hypertension alter renal volume and renal arterial Doppler indices compared to normotensive pregnancy?

Key Points

To assess renal volumetric and Doppler ultrasound parameters in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension compared to normotensive pregnant controls.
Prospective case-control study conducted at a tertiary hospital between December 2019 and May 2022, enrolling 250 women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and 250 matched normotensive pregnant controls.
Renal volume was calculated via the ellipsoid formula, and Doppler parameters including Resistivity Index and Pulsatility Index were evaluated in main renal and interlobar arteries.
Mean renal volume was significantly greater in the PIH group than in controls (196.8 ± 45.2 cm³ vs. 125.1 ± 26.3 cm³; mean difference 71.7 cm³, 95% CI: 65.2-78.2; p < 0.0001).
Main renal artery Resistivity Index was significantly elevated in PIH (0.70 ± 0.10 vs. 0.58 ± 0.05; mean difference 0.12, 95% CI: 0.11-0.13; p < 0.0001), yielding an AUC of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84-0.91; p < 0.0001).
Peak systolic velocity was higher in PIH (59.1 ± 13.5 cm/s vs. 54.2 ± 9.8 cm/s; p < 0.001), whereas end-diastolic velocity did not differ between groups (18.6 ± 4.2 cm/s vs. 18.5 ± 4.1 cm/s; p = 0.79).

Study Design

Type

Case-Control (n=500)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does pregnancy-induced hypertension alter renal volume and renal arterial Doppler indices compared to normotensive pregnancy?

P

Population

500 pregnant women, comprising 250 with pregnancy-induced hypertension and 250 age- and gestational-age-matched normotensive controls, evaluated cross-sectionally.

E

Exposure

Renal volumetric and Doppler ultrasound assessment (evaluating main renal arteries and renal interlobar arteries) in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

C

Comparator

Renal volumetric and Doppler ultrasound assessment in age- and gestational-age-matched normotensive pregnant women.

O

Outcome

Renal volume (calculated using the ellipsoid formula) and renal arterial Doppler indices (MRA RI, MRA PI, RILA RI, and RILA PI).surrogate

Main Result

Mean Difference: 71.7 (95% CI 65.2–78.2)

Absolute Event Rate: 196.8% vs 125.1%

p-value: p=<0.0001

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is associated with significant renal enlargement and increased renovascular resistance, suggesting renal Doppler ultrasound could serve as a non-invasive marker of renal involvement.

Limitations

Single-center, cross-sectional design at a tertiary referral center may overrepresent severe disease and limits causal inference.
Heterogeneous mix of women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia grouped together.
Lack of systematic data collection on potential confounders such as BMI, antihypertensive medication, and hydration status.
Sonographer was not blinded to case-control status for the main cohort.
All examinations were performed by a single operator, precluding assessment of inter-observer variability.
Lack of biochemical correlation with quantitative proteinuria or novel biomarkers of renal injury.
Volumetric measurement method included renal sinus fat and did not account for body surface area.
ROC analysis for diagnostic thresholds was performed post-hoc without external validation.
Did not collect maternal or fetal outcome data to assess prognostic value.
Complete blinding of the operator to case-control status was not feasible
Inclusion of the renal sinus and collecting system in volume calculations
No adjustment for body surface area was applied to renal volume
Ellipsoid formula may systematically overestimate volume compared to more complex methods
Absence of biochemical or histopathologic correlation
ROC analysis threshold subject to overfitting

Implication

May support renal Doppler as a marker in pregnancy-induced hypertension; hypothesis-generating and should not change practice without prospective validation.

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is associated with renal hemodynamic and structural alterations that may contribute to maternal morbidity. This study evaluated renal volumetric and Doppler ultrasound parameters in women with PIH compared with normotensive pregnant controls in Northeastern Nigeria. Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted at a tertiary hospital between December 2019 and May 2022. A total of 250 women with PIH and 250 age- and gestational-age-matched normotensive pregnant women were enrolled. Renal volume was calculated using the ellipsoid formula (L × W × AP × 0.523). Pulsatility Index (PI) and Resistivity Index (RI) were assessed in the main renal arteries (MRA) and renal interlobar arteries (RILA) using standardized Doppler ultrasound techniques. Intra-observer reproducibility was evaluated in a randomly selected 10% subsample. Results: Mean renal volume was significantly greater in women with PIH than in controls (196.8 ± 45.2 cm³ vs. 125.1 ± 26.3 cm³; p < 0.0001). Doppler indices were also significantly elevated in the PIH group, including MRA RI, MRA PI, RILA RI, and RILA PI (all p < 0.0001). Peak systolic velocity and systolic/diastolic ratio were significantly higher among PIH subjects (p < 0.001), whereas end-diastolic velocity showed no significant difference (p = 0.79). A weak positive correlation was observed between renal volume and MRA RI in the PIH group (r = 0.25, p = 0.023). Doppler parameters did not vary significantly across gestational age subgroups. Conclusion: PIH is associated with significant renal enlargement and increased renovascular resistance. Renal Doppler ultrasound may provide useful non-invasive markers of renal involvement in hypertensive pregnancies, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Mohammed et al. (2026) conducted a case-control in Pregnancy-induced hypertension (n=500). Pregnancy-induced hypertension vs. Normotensive pregnant controls was evaluated on Mean renal volume (MD 71.7, 95% CI 65.2-78.2, p=<0.0001). Pregnancy-induced hypertension was associated with a significantly greater mean renal volume (mean difference 71.7 cm³) and elevated main renal artery resistivity index compared to normotensive controls.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa90187eed42882c1fc19b7 https://doi.org/10.82339/jrmt.vol7no1.108

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Comprehensive Renal Doppler Sonographic Evaluation in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: A Large-Scale Case-Control Study from Northeastern Nigeria

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Comprehensive Renal Doppler Sonographic Evaluation in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension: A Large-Scale Case-Control Study from Northeastern Nigeria

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading