Evaluating Endothelial Damage in Acute Kidney Injury with Perfluorocarbon (PFC) Nanoparticles (NP) & 19F MRI

Lingzhi Hu¹, Junjie Chen¹, Xiaoxia Yang¹, Shelton D. Caruthers¹, Gregory M. Lanza¹, Samuel A. Wickline¹

We have demonstrated a new 19F MRI approach using circulating PFC NP to quantify renal perfusion and vascular damage after ischemic injury. The measured regional intrarenal blood volume and oxygenation is consistent with previous observations. In I/R injured kidney, 19F MRI of PFC NP delineates reduced blood volume in C-M junction and vascular leakage in medulla as a consequence of endothelial damage. Although BOLD MRI shows enhanced T2* values at C-M junction of injured kidneys, it does not necessarily reflect hyperoxia but may also sense reduced blood flow. Thus, the proposed novel 19F MRI approach could provide a powerful tool to assess renal vascular damage in AKI.