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Evaluation of renal allograft function early after transplantation with diffusion-weighted MR imaging

  • Magnetic Resonance
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Abstract

Aims

To determine the inter-patient variability of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) and concurrent micro-circulation contributions from diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DW-MRI) in renal allografts early after transplantation, and to obtain initial information on whether these measures are altered in histologically proven acute allograft rejection (AR).

Methods

DW-MRI was performed in 15 renal allograft recipients 5–19 days after transplantation. Four patients presented with AR and one with acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Total ADC (ADCT) was determined, which includes diffusion and micro-circulation contributions. Furthermore, diffusion and micro-circulation contributions were separated, yielding the “perfusion fraction” (FP), and “perfusion-free” diffusion (ADCD).

Results

Diffusion parameters in the ten allografts with stable function early after transplantation demonstrated low variabilities. Values for ADCT and ADCD were (×10−5 mm2/s) 228 ± 14 and 203 ± 9, respectively, in cortex and 226 ± 16 and 199 ± 9, respectively, in medulla. FP values were 18 ± 5% in cortex and 19 ± 5% in medulla. FP values were strongly reduced to less than 12% in cortex and medulla of renal transplants with AR and ATN. FP values correlated with creatinine clearance.

Conclusion

DW-MRI allows reliable determination of diffusion and micro-circulation contributions in renal allografts shortly after transplantation; deviations in AR indicate potential clinical utility of this method to non-invasively monitor derangements in renal allografts.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Swiss National Foundation 320000–113512/1 and 320000–111959/1.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Ute Eisenberger & Felix J. Frey

  2. Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Harriet C. Thoeny

  3. Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Tobias Binser, Chris Boesch & Peter Vermathen

  4. Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Mathias Gugger

  5. Department of Clinical Research/AMSM, University Bern, Pavillon 52, Inselspital, P.O. Box 35, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Peter Vermathen

Authors
  1. Ute Eisenberger
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  2. Harriet C. Thoeny
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  3. Tobias Binser
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  4. Mathias Gugger
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  5. Felix J. Frey
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  6. Chris Boesch
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  7. Peter Vermathen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Vermathen.

Additional information

Ute Eisenberger and Harriet C. Thoeny contributed equally to this work.

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Eisenberger, U., Thoeny, H.C., Binser, T. et al. Evaluation of renal allograft function early after transplantation with diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Eur Radiol 20, 1374–1383 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1679-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-009-1679-9

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