Virtual touch IQ elastography in evaluation of Achilles tendon in patients with chronic renal failure

• DOI: 10.1007/s10396-018-0907-9
• Publication Date: 2018-10-05T01:13:58Z
• Authors: Emrah Caglar; Ibrahim Ilker Oz; Serkan Guneyli; Muammer Bilici; Fatih Yılmaz; Sevil Uygun Ilikhan; Ali Borazan
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Rupture, Spontaneous; Middle Aged; Achilles Tendon; Healthy Volunteers; 3. Good health; Achilles tendon; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Renal Dialysis; Hemodialysis; VTIQ; Case-Control Studies; Tendinopathy; Elasticity Imaging Techniques; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Female; Prospective Studies; Elastography; Aged

To evaluate the sonoelastographic changes in the Achilles tendon in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) using virtual touch imaging quantification (VTIQ) elastography.Twenty-six patients undergoing three hemodialysis sessions per week and 26 subjects admitted to our institution between January 2016 and April 2016 were included in this prospective study. The characteristics and body mass index of the patients were noted. Ultrasonography was performed parallel to the long axis of the bilateral Achilles tendons during relaxation of the legs using the Siemens Acuson S3000™ ultrasound device (Siemens HealthCare, Erlangen, Germany). Tendon thickness was reviewed, and tissue stiffness was quantitatively assessed using VTIQ elastography. Independent samples t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analyses.The median values of shear wave velocities of the Achilles tendon in patients with CRF were 7.19 m/s (4.23-9.77 m/s) on the right and 6.98 m/s (4.00-9.82 m/s) on the left, while they were 5.11 m/s (4.09-8.82 m/s) on the right and 5.36 m/s (4.05-8.80 m/s) on the left in controls. The stiffness of the Achilles tendons in patients with CRF was found to be higher than that in controls (right: P < 0.001, left: P = 0.004). There was no statistically significant difference in tendon thickness between the CRF and control groups (P > 0.05).The thickness and stiffness of tendon can be effectively evaluated with sonoelastography. The thickness of the Achilles tendon did not significantly differ between the patients with CRF and healthy subjects. However, the stiffness of the Achilles tendon measured with VTIQ elastography was demonstrated to be increased in the patients with CRF.