We are happy to share the results of our kidney imaging method study in the publication ‘Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging allows non-invasive functional and structural evaluation of diabetic kidney disease’. The study, a collaboration between Antaros Medical, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and AstraZeneca, reinforces the power of MRI as a tool for drug development in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). It is a non-invasive tool with potential to provide valuable insights into the underlying pathophysiology of disease progression and mechanism of action of therapeutic interventions in DKD.
What MRI can tell us about the kidney
The study included MRI markers of renal hemodynamics (renal arterial flow and perfusion measurements), renal macrostructure (kidney volume), renal oxygenation (BOLD R2*), and renal microstructure, including inflammation and fibrosis (diffusion measurements, R1 and MTC). The baseline results of this study showed that:
- Specific MRI based markers independently correlated with Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and Urine Albumin to Creatinine Ratio (UACR), supporting MRI as a novel biomarker for kidney disease
- In particular, renal arterial flow measurements were strong predictors of CKD stage
- The use of these MRI markers in clinical trials is reinforced by the low within-person variation seen in most of the measurements
Moreover, MRI markers provide additional information on pathophysiological processes in DKD including renal hemodynamics, macrostructure, microstructure, and oxygenation, allowing potential investigation of the dynamic interplay of these processes in disease progression, which is not possible with today’s established markers of DKD.
Find the article here:
Title: Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging Allows Non-Invasive Functional and Structural Evaluation of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Makvandi K, Hockings P D, Jensen G, Unnerstall T, Leonhardt H, Jarl L, Englund C, Francis S, Sundgren A K, Hulthe J, Baid-Agrawal S
Partial results from this study have previously been communicated:
About diabetic kidney disease
Today, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects around 10% of the world’s population. Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common form of CKD. In its most advanced stage, DKD requires renal replacement therapy (dialysis or kidney transplant) imposing a high burden on both healthcare and the quality of life of patients. With the global increase of diabetes mellitus, the burden of DKD is expected to continue to grow.
Currently used biomarkers for DKD allows estimation of kidney function, but biopsy is necessary to understand disease aetiology. Recent advances in the CKD and DKD field have allowed that treatments for these patients are now on the way. However, there is a huge need to find new, non-invasive biomarkers to guide the further development of drugs in this area. MRI has great potential to non-invasively assess functional and morphologic, including fibrotic, changes in the kidney that may improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring in patients with DKD.