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Licurse Score for Renal Ultrasound
Stratifies the likelihood of hydronephrosis on renal ultrasound in acute kidney injury.
Licurse Score for Renal Ultrasound
History of hydronephrosis
Non-black race
History of recurrent urinary tract infections
Diagnosis suggesting possible obstruction
Abdominal/pelvic mass, BPH, pelvic surgery, or neurogenic bladder.
No exposure to inpatient nephrotoxic agents
No aspirin >81 mg, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or vancomycin.
No congestive heart failure
No prerenal cause of AKI
No pressor use and no sepsis.
Result0 points
Low risk of hydronephrosis; routine renal ultrasound has a low yield and may reasonably be deferred.
- Risk category
- Low risk
When to use
- Deciding whether renal ultrasound is likely to reveal hydronephrosis in a patient with acute kidney injury.
Formula
Points: history of hydronephrosis 4; and 1 point each for non-black race, recurrent UTIs, a diagnosis suggesting obstruction, absence of nephrotoxin exposure, absence of heart failure, and absence of a prerenal cause. Low <=2, medium 3, high >=4.
Pearls and pitfalls
- The low-risk group had a low prevalence of hydronephrosis, supporting selective rather than routine ultrasonography.