Changes in renal dimensions evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography during long-term ciclosporin-A treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate changes in renal dimensions during long-term treatment with ciclosporin-A (CsA).


METHODS
Five mini-Göttingen pigs were treated with CsA (10 mg kg(-1) day(-1)) for 6 months; 3 untreated animals served as controls. Renal length was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US); renal volume by MRI. Examinations were performed at baseline (0 weeks) and after the start of CsA treatment at intervals of 5 weeks (5-25 weeks).


RESULTS
Comparison of baseline and end-point data (0 weeks vs. 25 weeks) revealed a statistically significant increase in renal volume in CsA-treated animals (87.1 cm3 vs. 55.9 cm3, P=0.002). Renal volume remained unchanged in the control group. A significant increase in renal length was found both in the CsA-treated pigs (MRI: 96 mm vs. 84 mm, P<0.001; US: 94 mm vs. 81 mm, P<0.001) and in the control group (MRI: 97 mm vs. 85 mm, P<0.001; US: 89 mm vs. 81 mm, P=0.018). No difference was found between MRI and US measurements based on 40 paired units (MRI variance: 2.4-30.3% and US variance: -5.1-40.6%, P=0.133).


CONCLUSIONS
During long-term CsA treatment, renal volume increases in mini-pigs, but there is no correlation between the increase in volume and the increase in length in this pig model.
The Clinical Institute, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark.
M C
MC
Grøn
D
D
Hanefelt Kristensen
D
D
Cibulskyte
A
A
Hørlyck
H
H
Kaalund
H E
HE
Hansen
M
M
Madsen
M
M
Pedersen
J
J
Mortensen
D000818:Animals; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013995:Time; D014463:Ultrasonography
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine