Fetal renal artery blood velocimetry in multicystic kidney disease

Color flow mapping and Doppler velocimetry were used to measure impedance to flow in both renal arteries of 11 fetuses with unilateral multicystic kidney disease at 19–34 (mean = 26) weeks' gestation. In all cases, the pulsatility index in the renal artery of the multicystic kidney was higher than that of the contralateral normal kidney; the mean pulsatility index in the arteries of the affected kidneys was significantly higher than the normal mean for gestation. Copyright © 1991 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology