Abstract
This article aimed to investigate the effect of hypertension on renal cortical size and to compare it with normotensives and was carried out in Aseer region southwestern of Saudi Arabia. One hundred seventy-five hypertensive subjects and three hundred twenty-five subjects (control group) were enrolled in the study. The participants were classified into five group depending on their age, three group according to their body mass index (BMI) and three another group regarding duration of hypertension. Ultrasound imaging was performed by a single radiologist using logic 3, LSD General Electric ultrasound machine. To achieve acceptable image quality, a Low frequency (3.5MHZ) curvilinear transducer was employed with the frequency occasionally changing to (5 MHZ) for slender patients. The scan was performed with the patient in supine and lateral position. The results showed that the mean cortical magnitude for hypertensive was 0.64 cm in the left and 0.54 cm in the right. The age significantly and negatively correlated to the cortical size, while the (BMI) has a positive correlation with cortical dimensions. Cortical thickness was reduced in hypertension subjects for more than five years. Duration of hypertension and age were more effective parameters on cortical size. Cortical thickness measured by ultrasound can be good indicator for evaluation of renal function and evaluate the progression of hypertension. Ultrasound can be used to measure the cortical size from time to time for hypertensive patients.