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

作者：Fan, Wen-jun; Ren, Tao; Li, Qiong; Zuo, Pan-li; Long, Miao-miao; Mo, Chun-bai; Chen, Li-hua; Huang, Li-xiang; Shen, Wen^*

来源：European Radiology, 2016, 26(2): 567-575.

DOI：10.1007/s00330-015-3841-x

• Kidney
• Renal allograft
• Diffusion tensor imaging
• Fractional anisotropy
• Tractography

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.

• 出版日期2016-2
• 单位天津市第一中心医院; 天津医科大学