Renal shear wave elastography for the assessment of nephron hypertrophy: a cross-sectional study in chronic kidney disease

Purpose To investigate the association of renal elasticity to microscopic findings of nephron hypertrophy and nephrosclerosis. Methods Patients who underwent renal biopsy were enrolled. Renal elasticity was measured by acoustic radiation force impulse, and nephron size (glomerular volume, non-sclerotic glomerular density, and mean profile tubular area) and nephrosclerosis (globally sclerotic glomeruli and interstitial fibrosis) were estimated. Nephron hypertrophy was indicated by larger glomerular volume, larger tubular area, and lower non-sclerotic glomerular density. Nephrosclerosis was indicated by a higher percentage of globally sclerotic glomeruli and higher severity of fibrosis. Results Renal elasticity was negatively correlated with glomerular volume (r = - 0.480, P = 0.024) and mean tubular area (r = - 0.469, P = 0.028), but it was not correlated with non-sclerotic glomerular density (r = 0.205, P = 0.359), percentage of globally sclerotic glomeruli (r = 0.057, P = 0.800), and severity of fibrosis (r = 0.014, P = 0.950). In a multiple linear regression analysis, glomerular volume and mean tubular area were independently associated with renal elasticity (std beta = - 0.454, P = 0.015 and std beta = - 0.577, P = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion Renal elasticity was correlated with microstructural findings of nephron hypertrophy. Measuring renal elasticity could help in detecting kidney disease.