Currently used biomarkers in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) do not provide insights into the pathophysiology, degree of anatomic damage, or risk of progression. There is a need for novel, sensitive, and reliable non-invasive biomarkers that can be used in clinical practice to improve diagnosis and disease monitoring, but can also serve as biomarkers in clinical trials to help drive the development of new treatments for DKD. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging technique that is rapidly evolving to meet this need.
A newly published review by Iris Friedli (Senior Director MR Imaging @ Antaros Medical), Seema Baid-Agrawal (Senior Physician @ Sahlgrenska University Hospital and A/Prof @ University of Gothenburg), Robert Unwin (Chief Scientist @ AstraZeneca), Arvid Morell (Director MR Imaging @ Antaros Medical), Lars Johansson (CSO @ Antaros Medical), and Paul Hockings (Senior Director MR Imaging @ Antaros Medical and Adjunct Professor @ Chalmers University of Technology) provides a timely overview of the current landscape of MRI techniques and their value in DKD. The review was published this week in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.
MRI allows us to advance our understanding of kidney microstructure (including fibrosis and inflammation), macrostructure (kidney volume), oxygenation, and hemodynamics. A multiparametric MRI protocol can incorporate this in a single examination.
Title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Clinical Trials of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Friedli I, Baid-Agrawal S, Unwin R, Morell A, Johansson L, Hockings P
Find the review here.