Abstract:Objective To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in quantifying renal cortical perfusion in patients with Takayasu arteritis-induced renal arteritis (TARA). Methods This is a retrospective study. 21 patients diagnosed with TARA, who were admitted in Beijing Hospital during July 2017 and December 2019, were enrolled. 22 subjects without kidney diseases or cardiovascular diseases were enrolled as a control group. 86 kidneys in two groups were analyzed. CEUS were performed to all subjects to quantitatively analyze renal cortical perfusion, then generating a time-intensity curve (TIC) and related parameters, including the area under the curve (AUC), the slope rate of ascending curve (A), the peak intensity (PI), the time to peak intensity (TTP) and the mean transit time (MTT). Analyze the differences of parameters mentioned above between the TARA group and the control group. The relationships between perfusion parameters and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were also analyzed. Results Confirmed by CTA or DSA, 26 kidneys with renal artery stenosis in the TARA group were defined as the affected side. The other 16 kidneys free from renal artery stenosis were defined as the healthy side. The TIC parameters of the affected kidneys in TARA patients were significantly different from the control group. To be specifically, AUC, A, PI were notably lower while TTP and MTT were significantly prolonged in the TARA group (all P<0.05). In addition, the perfusion parameter A in TARA healthy kidneys was lower than control group while TTP was prolonged. AUC, A, PI showed positive correlations with GFR (P<0.05), while correlations between TTP, MTT and GFR were negative (P<0.05). Conclusion CEUS can quantitatively assess renal cortical perfusion in TARA patients, and the perfusion parameters showed strong correlations with GFR.