Assessment Of Kidney Sizes [Using Ultrasonography] In Chronic Renal Failure

Objectives: To assess the effects of severity of renal failure on kidney size. Subjects and Method: Ninety adult subjects [56 male 34 female] were recruited from the renal clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, over a period of 13 consecutive months. History and physical examination were carried out on initial visit. Their GFR was determined by urine creatinine clearance. The subjects were grouped into 3 – Group 1 GFR 11 – 20mls/min, Group 2 GFR 6 – 10mls/min, Group 3 GFR ≤5mls/min. Their kidney sizes were measured using ultrasonography. Results In both male and female subjects, mean kidney size reduced progressively as GFR deteriorated. Mean kidney size in male subjects in group 1 was 9.2cm±0.2. Group 2 was 8.4cm±0.5, Group 3 was 7.9cm±0.5. Mean kidney size in female subjects was as follows – Group 1-8.9cm±0.1, Group 2 – 8.2cm±0.1, Group 3 -8.0cm±0.5. Conclusion Mean kidney sizes were reduced as GFR worsened progressively Keywords: Ultrasonography, Kidney sizes, Enugu, NigeriaTropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 12 (1) 2008: pp. 6-