Evaluation of renal allografts function early after transplantation using intravoxel incoherent motion and arterial spin labeling MRI.
To evaluate renal allografts function early after transplantation using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI.



This prospective study was approved by the local ethics committee, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. A total of 82 participants with 62 renal allograft recipients (2-4weeks after kidney transplantation) and 20 volunteers were enrolled to be scanned using IVIM and ASL MRI on a 3.0T MR scanner. Recipients were divided into two groups with either normal or impaired function according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with a threshold of 60ml/min/1.73m(2). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of pure diffusion (ADCslow), the ADC of pseudodiffusion (ADCfast), perfusion fraction (PF), and renal blood flow (RBF) of cortex were compared among three groups. The correlation of ADCslow, ADCfast, PF and RBF with eGFR was evaluated. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic efficiency of using IVIM and ASL parameters to discriminate allografts with impaired function from normal function. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.



In allografts with normal function, no significant difference of mean cortical ADCslow, ADCfast, and PF was found compared with healthy controls (P>0.05). Cortical RBF in allografts with normal function was statistically lower than that of healthy controls (P<0.001). Mean cortical ADCslow, ADCfast, PF and RBF were lower for allografts with impaired function than that with normal function (P<0.05). Mean cortical ADCslow, ADCfast, PF and RBF showed a positive correlation with eGFR (all P<0.01) for recipients. The combination of IVIM and ASL MRI showed a higher area under the ROC curve (AUC) (0.865) than that of ASL MRI alone (P=0.02).



Combined IVIM and ASL MRI can better evaluate the diffusion and perfusion properties for allografts early after kidney transplantation.
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: abc2008093116@163.com.
Tao
T
Ren
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: jacinthnoel@126.com.
Cheng-Long
CL
Wen
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: li_hos@163.com.
Li-Hua
LH
Chen
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: happyness0903@163.com.
Shuang-Shuang
SS
Xie
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: beautifullove89@126.com.
Yue
Y
Cheng
Department of Transplantation Surgery, Tianjin First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: rainyday800@163.com.
Ying-Xin
YX
Fu
Siemens Healthcare, 10021,New York, USA. Electronic address: mayday0309@126.com.
Niels
N
Oesingmann
Siemens Healthcare, 91052, Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: wuyanh_supper2@163.com.
Andre
A
de Oliveira
Siemens Healthcare, MR Collaborations NE Asia, 100010,Beijing, China. Electronic address: lilusia@163.com.
Pan-Li
PL
Zuo
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: springwindy90@126.com.
Jian-Zhong
JZ
Yin
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: wangzl_186@126.com.
Shuang
S
Xia
Department of Radiology, Tianjin Medical University First Center Hospital, 300192, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: shenwen66happy@163.com.
Wen
W
Shen
D000328:Adult; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D003404:Creatinine
ASL; Diagnostic efficacy; IVIM; Renal allograft