Andrew L. Wentland1, 2, Arjang Djamali3, Shannon R. Reese3, Sean B. Fain1, Thomas M. Grist2, Chris J. Francois2, Amanda J. Kolterman2, Elizabeth A. Sadowski2
1Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI, United States; 2Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI, United States; 3Nephrology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
While individual studies have used BOLD imaging to evaluate renal oxygen bioavailability in transplant patients with various forms of allograft dysfunction, no study has compared measurements between these groups. We compared measurements of oxygen bioavailability in healthy subjects with native kidneys, subjects with well-functioning renal allografts, and transplant patients undergoing chronic allograft nephropathy, acute tubular necrosis, and acute rejection. Medullary oxygen bioavailability was significantly higher in subjects with acute rejection than in the other four groups. No other significant differences were found. The inclusion of an MR perfusion technique in future studies may elucidate the mechanisms behind these abnormal measurements.
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