The authors present an account of their initial experience with the use of a new echocontrast agent, Levovist, in Doppler ultrasonographic (DUS) examinations of transplanted kidneys. Nine patients aged 8 - 22 years with a suboptimal DUS of the graft were examined after i.v. administration of Levovist. In 89% administration of Levovist improved significantly the quality of DUS, in 78% it led to confirmation of the diagnosis obtained by pre-contrast DUS. In 11% Levovist contributed to a change of the final diagnosis (it ruled out renal artery stenosis). In 11% the diagnosis remained equivocal even after administration of Levovist. The effect of Levovist was apparent when mapping the peripheral blood supply of the graft and also during visualization of the afferent artery and its branches. In the diagnosis of the renal artery stenosis Levovist can by ruling out or confirming major stenosis contribute to the selection of patients suitable for angiography. The authors did not record any undesirable reactions after Levovist administration.

        Key words: ultrasonography - Doppler - kidney transplantation - renal artery obstruction - contrast media