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DTI for the assessment of disease stage in patients with glomerulonephritis - correlation with renal histology

  • Magnetic Resonance
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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate whether DTI allows assessment of renal impairment and pathology in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

Materials and methods

Seventy-five patients and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Renal function and kidney biopsies were evaluated. For DTI, a respiratory-triggered coronal EPI sequence was performed (TR, 1400 ms; TE, 76 ms; diffusion direction, 6; NEX, 4; b values, 0 and 600 s/mm2; slices thickness, 6 mm, with no intersection gap). Renal ADC and FA values were calculated and compared between the groups. Correlations between ADC/FA and histopathology were evaluated.

Results

ADC values decreased with increased stages. ADC differences in renal parenchyma at different disease stages were found, with the exception of the control group compared with stage 1 patients; similar results were obtained for FA. ADC values in the cortex and medulla in stage 1-3 patients were both statistically different, similar to the FA values. A significant negative correlation was found between the percentage of glomerulosclerosis and FA in the renal cortex (r = -0.74), similar to the degree of tubulointerstitial fibrosis with FA in the medulla (r = -0.76).

Conclusions

ADC and FA values are correlated with the degree of renal impairment, the percentage of glomerulosclerosis, and area of interstitial fibrosis.

Key Points

• DTI can be used to assess renal function impairment in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis.

• ADC and FA values were correlated with tubulointerstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis.

• Identification of renal impairment is helpful for timely treatment.

• DTI can be used for non-invasive assessment of renal pathology.

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Acknowledgments

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Qiang Feng. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. One of the authors has significant statistical expertise. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study. Methodology: retrospective randomised controlled trial, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China

    Qiang Feng

  2. Affiliated Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China

    Qiang Feng, Zhijun Ma & Wei Fang

  3. Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, China

    Jianlin Wu

  4. 6 Jiefang Road, Zhongshan District, Dalian, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of China

    Jianlin Wu

Authors
  1. Qiang Feng
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  2. Zhijun Ma
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  3. Jianlin Wu
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  4. Wei Fang
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Correspondence to Jianlin Wu.

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Feng, Q., Ma, Z., Wu, J. et al. DTI for the assessment of disease stage in patients with glomerulonephritis - correlation with renal histology. Eur Radiol 25, 92–98 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3336-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3336-1

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