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Assessment of renal allograft function early after transplantation with isotropic resolution diffusion tensor imaging

  • Magnetic Resonance
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography in renal allografts at the early stage after kidney transplantation.

Methods

This study was approved by the institutional ethical review committee, and written informed consent was obtained. A total of 54 renal allograft recipients 2–3 weeks after transplantation and 26 age-matched healthy volunteers underwent renal DTI with a 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. Recipients were divided into three groups according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of the cortex and medulla were measured and compared among the groups. Whole-kidney tractography was performed. Correlation of eGFR with diffusion parameters was evaluated.

Results

In allografts with stable function, the medullary ADC was higher and the cortical FA was lower (p < 0.001) than in healthy kidneys. The cortical ADC, medullary ADC and FA decreased as the allograft function declined, and with a positive correlation with eGFR (p < 0.001); cortical FA did not. Tractography demonstrated a decrease of tract density in impaired functional allografts.

Conclusions

Renal DTI produces reliable results to assess renal allograft function at the early stage after transplantation.

Key Points

• DTI and tractography can evaluate renal allograft function at an early stage

• Medullary FA, cortical and medullary ADC can effectively evaluate allograft function

• Medullary FA, cortical and medullary ADC are correlated with eGFR in renal allografts

• Medullary ADC increased and cortical FA decreased in stable allografts compared to control subjects

• Medullary FA, cortical and medullary ADC decreased and allograft function declined

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Dr. Wen Shen from the Department of Radiology, Tianjin First Central Hospital. Dr. Pan-Li Zuo declares a relationship with the following company: Siemens Healthcare. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional review board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study. Methodology: retrospective, experimental study, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China

    Wen-jun Fan, Tao Ren, Qiong Li, Miao-miao Long, Li-hua Chen, Li-xiang Huang & Wen Shen

  2. Medical Department, Armed Police Corps Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450052, China

    Wen-jun Fan

  3. Department of Transplantation Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China

    Chun-bai Mo

  4. Siemens Healthcare, MR Collaboration NE Asia, Beijing, 100102, China

    Pan-li Zuo

Authors
  1. Wen-jun Fan
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  2. Tao Ren
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  9. Wen Shen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wen Shen.

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Fan, Wj., Ren, T., Li, Q. et al. Assessment of renal allograft function early after transplantation with isotropic resolution diffusion tensor imaging. Eur Radiol 26, 567–575 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3841-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3841-x

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