title: The role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the assessment of kidney viability.
abstract: Renal transplant programmes are seriously limited by the continuing shortage of donor organs. Kidneys from marginal and non-heart-beating donors are increasingly being used, but their viability may be compromised. There is currently no rapid yet accurate method for assessing donor organ viability which can be applied within the window of opportunity between harvesting and implantation. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a non-invasive technique which is being increasingly applied to delineate biochemical changes in vivo. Studies in animal models and humans now suggest that phosphorus-31 MRS may be useful in the non-invasive assessment of isolated donor kidney viability.
authors.affiliation: Robert Steiner Magnetic Resonance Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Changani
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Taylor-Robinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009926:Organ Preservation; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement