TY - JOUR
T1 - Renal Resistive Index from Renal Hemodynamics to Cardiovascular Risk
T2 - Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Implications
AU - Geraci, Giulio
AU - Ferrara, Pietro
AU - La Via, Luigi
AU - Sorce, Alessandra
AU - Calabrese, Vincenzo
AU - Cuttone, Giuseppe
AU - Paternò, Valentina
AU - Pallotti, Francesco
AU - Sambataro, Gianluca
AU - Zanoli, Luca
AU - George, Jacob
AU - Polosa, Riccardo
AU - Mulè, Giuseppe
AU - Carollo, Caterina
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/6/9
Y1 - 2025/6/9
N2 - Duplex-Doppler ultrasonography has become an essential tool in the diagnosis and management of kidney diseases, allowing clinicians to assess renal hemodynamics, detect vascular abnormalities, and monitor disease progression. Among the various Doppler-derived parameters, the renal resistive index (RRI) has gained particular attention both as a diagnostic tool and a prognostic marker in nephrology. Traditionally considered an indicator of parenchymal perfusion, recent evidence highlights its strong association with systemic hemodynamic factors, particularly arterial stiffness, positioning RRI as a valuable tool for evaluating patients with systemic vascular impairment, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis. RRI has been strongly linked to vascular damage, which in turn is influenced by inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, making it a reliable marker of cardiovascular damage and a potential predictor of cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, emerging studies suggest that RRI could serve as a dynamic parameter to monitor vascular changes induced by therapeutic interventions. This narrative review summarizes the classic and evolving applications of RRI, from its origin as a renal hemodynamic marker to its emerging role as a systemic vascular biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic significance in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
AB - Duplex-Doppler ultrasonography has become an essential tool in the diagnosis and management of kidney diseases, allowing clinicians to assess renal hemodynamics, detect vascular abnormalities, and monitor disease progression. Among the various Doppler-derived parameters, the renal resistive index (RRI) has gained particular attention both as a diagnostic tool and a prognostic marker in nephrology. Traditionally considered an indicator of parenchymal perfusion, recent evidence highlights its strong association with systemic hemodynamic factors, particularly arterial stiffness, positioning RRI as a valuable tool for evaluating patients with systemic vascular impairment, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and atherosclerosis. RRI has been strongly linked to vascular damage, which in turn is influenced by inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, making it a reliable marker of cardiovascular damage and a potential predictor of cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, emerging studies suggest that RRI could serve as a dynamic parameter to monitor vascular changes induced by therapeutic interventions. This narrative review summarizes the classic and evolving applications of RRI, from its origin as a renal hemodynamic marker to its emerging role as a systemic vascular biomarker with diagnostic and prognostic significance in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
KW - arterial stiffness
KW - cardiovascular risk
KW - Doppler ultrasonography
KW - hypertension
KW - renal hemodynamic
KW - renal resistive index
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105009309398
U2 - 10.3390/diseases13060178
DO - 10.3390/diseases13060178
M3 - Review article
C2 - 40558590
AN - SCOPUS:105009309398
SN - 2079-9721
VL - 13
JO - Diseases
JF - Diseases
IS - 6
M1 - 178
ER -
