高雄榮民總醫院病理檢驗部

Cartilage MRI T2? relaxation time and perfusion changes of the knee in a 5/6 nephrectomy rat model of chronic kidney disease

Cartilage MRI T2∗ relaxation time and perfusion changes of the knee in a 5/6 nephrectomy ratmodel of chronic kidney disease.
 

OBJECTIVE:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by metabolic disturbances in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis as kidneyfunction declines. Alterations in blood perfusion in bone resulting from arteriosclerosis of bone vessels may relate to the progression of CKD. Herein, change in dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI parameters (A: amplitude, k_el: elimination constant, and k_ep: permeability rate constant) and MRI T2^∗ relaxation time of the knee cartilage were measured in a rodent nephrectomy model in order to (1) examine the relationship of peripheral blood perfusion to CKD and (2) demonstrate the feasibility of using DCE-MRI parameters and MRI T2^∗ as imaging biomarkers to monitor disease progression.

DESIGN:

Two groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats received either (1) no intervention or (2) 5/6 nephrectomy.

RESULTS:

We found that the CKD group (compared with the control group) had lower A and k_el values and similar k_ep value in the lateral and medial articular cartilages beginning at 12 weeks (P < 0.05); statistically significantly higher T2^∗ values in the lateral and medial articular cartilages beginning at 18 weeks (P < 0.05); statistically significantly decreased inner luminal diameter of the popliteal artery, and altered structure of the lateral and medial articular cartilages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Perfusion deficiency and CKD may be related. DCE parameters and MRI T2^∗ could serve as imaging biomarkers of cartilagedegeneration in CKD progression.