Renal CEUS in CKD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validation of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the assessment of renal perfusion using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in chronic kidney disease (CKD)
IRAS ID
291321
Contact name
Nick Selby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 0 days
Research summary
Renal perfusion, the delivery of oxygenated blood to kidney tissues, is important for both acute and chronic kidney diseases. Despite this, we do not have a way to measure renal perfusion in clinical practice. This is a major barrier to investigation and management of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). As these are conditions where cause and outcome vary significantly between individuals, measurement of kidney perfusion could improve assessment and allow treatment to be individualised.
The current non-invasive gold standard technique for renal perfusion measurement is arterial-spin labelling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI). However, MRI has limitations, including high cost and logistical barriers. Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) is a relatively inexpensive technique which can measure renal perfusion at the bedside. It uses a microbubble contrast agent, which allows continuous imaging of the vasculature and blood flow and is not damaging to the kidney. CEUS has been used to differentiate benign and malignant kidney masses, but its use in other forms of kidney disease is underdeveloped.
This proposal aims to compare MRI with CEUS measurement of renal perfusion in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). 10 people with CKD stages 3b and 4 (eGFR between 15-45ml/min/1.73m2) will be recruited. Participants will undergo two study sessions, consisting of one MRI scan and one renal CEUS scan. The ASL-MRI at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre (SPMIC) will provide a quantitative measure of renal perfusion, and CEUS performed at the Renal Unit at the Royal Derby Hospital will provide the comparison. Our group is already working on a study using this protocol in younger and older healthy volunteers. This proposal would use the same protocol for patients with CKD, to determine the range of renal perfusion values seen in CKD.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0278
Date of REC Opinion
23 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion