Evaluation of early renal disease in bitches with pyometra based on renal doppler measurements

Pyometra is a widely detected, chronic infection of the uterus. One of the complications of this infection is renal disease. Kidney biopsy, urinary biomarkers and blood tests were done to detect pyometra-associated renal disease. To our knowledge, no reports are available describing values for renal Doppler measurements in the bitches with pyometra. Doppler ultrasonography is a relatively new method used for evaluation of the renal diseases. The aims of this study were to determine whether renal vascular resistance does increase in dogs with pyometra and to make an early diagnosis of renal disease in dogs with pyometra. Eighteen bitches diagnosed with pyometra and ten healthy bitches were evaluated. Mean values for renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were 0.65 ± 0.02 and 1.73 ± 0.09 for dogs with pyometra; 0.55 ± 0.03 and 1.18 ± 0.03 for the healthy ones, respectively. Of these, four animals had increased RI values and fourteen had an increased PI level. In conclusion, renal vascular resistance determined by renal RI and PI, was increased in some dogs with pyometra. In early detection of the disease intrarenal PI values were more sensitive than intrarenal RI.