Visualization and quantification of renal R2* changes during water diuresis.
OBJECTIVE
To refine and evaluate methods for analysis of renal blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) MRI data.


METHODS
Color R2* maps and regions-of-interest (ROIs) on the borderline between cortex and medulla were applied to renal BOLD MRI data of a group of 13 young female subjects.


RESULTS
The distribution of R2* within the kidneys was heterogeneous and the response of human kidneys to water diuresis was patchy. R2* values at the cortico-medullary border region have a smaller variation than in wider cortical or medullary regions and are sensitive to physiological changes produced by water diuresis.


CONCLUSIONS
These methods provide improved visualization of the regional distribution of R2* and its variations and more precise quantification of the changes in renal R2* produced by water diuresis.
Zuo
Chun S
CS
Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts ma 02478, USA. chun@mclean.harvard.edu
Rofsky
Neil M
NM
Mahallati
Houman
H
Yu
Jeongsik
J
Zhang
Ming
M
Gilbert
Scott
S
Epstein
Franklin H
FH
D000328:Adult; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D004231:Diuresis / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012016:Reference Values