Aminu Kano Academic Scholars Association Multidisciplinary Journal
Exploration of sonography-detectable features of hypertension in adult patients using transabdominal ultrasound in Isolo, Lagos State
By Afis Olufemi Alimi, Livinus Chibuzo Abonyi, Oluwaremi Suliat Badmus and 4 others.
Abstract
Background
Hypertension is associated with renal and vascular abnormalities that may be visualised using transabdominal ultrasonography. This study investigated sonography-detectable abdominal features among adult hypertensive patients in Isolo, Lagos State.
Methods
A hospital-based cross-sectional study included 200 hypertensive adults attending General Hospital Isolo. Renal length, cortical thickness, echogenicity, portal vein diameter and abdominal aortic diameter were assessed. Findings were described by sex and duration of hypertension.
Results
Participants had a mean age of 54.8 ± 10.6 years, and 54% were male. Mean hypertension duration was 7.3 ± 4.2 years. Reduced renal length (<9 cm) was recorded in 16%, cortical thinning (<6 mm) in 23%, increased renal echogenicity in 29%, and loss of corticomedullary differentiation in 17%. Mean abdominal aortic diameter was 2.4 ± 0.3 cm, with dilatation (>3 cm) reported in 19%. Portal vein diameter was ≤13 mm in 82.5% of participants. Longer hypertension duration was associated with cortical thinning and abdominal aortic dilatation, whereas portal vein enlargement did not show a comparable trend.