title: Evaluation of renal artery in hypertensive patients by unenhanced MR angiography using spatial labeling with multiple inversion pulses sequence and by CT angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to determine the performance of a new unenhanced MR angiography (MRA) sequence, spatial labeling with multiple inversion pulses (SLEEK), with regard to its ability to present the renal arteries and to reveal renal artery disease in patients with secondary hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unenhanced MRA using SLEEK was performed on a 1.5-T MRI system for assessing renal arteries in 50 patients with hypertension. Then all patients underwent CT angiography (CTA) within 1-7 days. The ability to present the renal arteries and to reveal renal artery disease with SLEEK was evaluated by two experienced radiologists and was compared with CTA results using a joint reading performed in consensus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six patients with hypertension successfully underwent SLEEK MRA. A total of 119 renal arteries were assessed, including 86 normal arteries, 26 with stenoses, and seven with fibromuscular dysplasia on CTA. There was excellent correlation between SLEEK and CTA in presenting the degree of renal artery stenosis (r(s) = 0.851; p < 0.05). SLEEK was superior to CTA in revealing the third- and fourth-order segmental branches in the renal parenchyma (p < 0.05). SLEEK has the advantage of avoiding interference from vertebra, atherosclerotic plaques, and early venous system enhancement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unenhanced MRA using SLEEK is a reliable diagnostic method for evaluating renal artery disease and revealing segmental branches in the renal parenchyma. It is relatively inexpensive and is not associated with renal complications. It can be used as an alternative to CTA for screening for renal artery disease, especially in patients with hypertension and renal insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Yigang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Haibing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Daoyu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide