Using renal artery duplex ultrasound to check kidney blood flow in ICU patients with acute kidney injury

The Validity of the Evaluation of Renal Artery Duplex in Critically Ill Acute Kidney Injury Patients

Observational Ain Shams University · NCT07073508

We will test whether a bedside renal artery duplex ultrasound measurement (renal resistive index) can detect early changes in kidney blood flow in critically ill adults with acute kidney injury.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment100 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorAin Shams University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Cairo)
Trial IDNCT07073508 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study enrolls adults within 24 hours of ICU admission and uses renal artery duplex Doppler to measure the renal resistive index (RRI). Patients with poor abdominal windows, advanced chronic kidney disease, dialysis dependence, renal transplant, renal artery stenosis, pregnancy, or congenital renal anomalies are excluded. RRI measurements will be compared with routine creatinine-based AKI markers and clinical course to see if intrarenal flow resistance signals kidney dysfunction earlier. The intent is to determine whether RRI could be incorporated into bedside organ-function assessment in critically ill patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adult ICU patients admitted to Ain Shams University within 24 hours who do not have dialysis dependence, a renal transplant, known renal artery stenosis, severe chronic kidney disease, pregnancy, congenital single-kidney or anatomic anomalies, or poor abdominal echogenicity.

Not a fit: Patients with poor ultrasound windows, advanced chronic kidney disease (eGFR/creatinine clearance <30 ml/min/1.73 m2), dialysis dependence, renal transplant, known renal artery stenosis, pregnancy, or congenital renal anomalies are unlikely to benefit from this imaging approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enable earlier detection of kidney perfusion changes at the bedside and prompt earlier interventions to limit AKI progression.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have used Doppler-derived renal resistive index to detect renal perfusion changes and predict AKI with mixed results, so the approach has precedent but is not yet definitive.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients age \>18 years.
* Both sexes.
* Patients within 24 hours after intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients presented with poor abdominal echogenicity.
* Chronic kidney disease, especially with estimated creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min/1.73m.
* Patients with dialysis dependency.
* Patients with renal transplantation.
* Patients with known renal artery stenosis.
* If there is a pregnancy.
* Patients with any congenital kidney diseases as mono-kidney, anatomic kidney abnormalities.

Where this trial is running

Cairo

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions ValidityRenal Artery DuplexCritically Ill Acute Kidney Injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.