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Friedli I, Baid-Agrawal S, Unwin R, Morell A, Johansson L, Hockings PD. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Clinical Trials of Diabetic Kidney Disease. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4625. [PMID: 37510740 PMCID: PMC10380287 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) (known as diabetic kidney disease, DKD) is a serious and growing healthcare problem worldwide. In DM patients, DKD is generally diagnosed based on the presence of albuminuria and a reduced glomerular filtration rate. Diagnosis rarely includes an invasive kidney biopsy, although DKD has some characteristic histological features, and kidney fibrosis and nephron loss cause disease progression that eventually ends in kidney failure. Alternative sensitive and reliable non-invasive biomarkers are needed for DKD (and CKD in general) to improve timely diagnosis and aid disease monitoring without the need for a kidney biopsy. Such biomarkers may also serve as endpoints in clinical trials of new treatments. Non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly multiparametric MRI, may achieve these goals. In this article, we review emerging data on MRI techniques and their scientific, clinical, and economic value in DKD/CKD for diagnosis, assessment of disease pathogenesis and progression, and as potential biomarkers for clinical trial use that may also increase our understanding of the efficacy and mode(s) of action of potential DKD therapeutic interventions. We also consider how multi-site MRI studies are conducted and the challenges that should be addressed to increase wider application of MRI in DKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Friedli
- Antaros Medical, BioVenture Hub, 43183 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Seema Baid-Agrawal
- Transplant Center, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Robert Unwin
- AstraZeneca R&D BioPharmaceuticals, Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Early Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolic Diseases (CVRM), Granta Park, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Arvid Morell
- Antaros Medical, BioVenture Hub, 43183 Mölndal, Sweden
| | | | - Paul D Hockings
- Antaros Medical, BioVenture Hub, 43183 Mölndal, Sweden
- MedTech West, Chalmers University of Technology, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Carlsen RK, Khatir DS, Jensen D, Birn H, Buus NH. Prediction of CKD Progression and Cardiovascular Events Using Albuminuria and Pulse Wave Velocity. Kidney Blood Press Res 2023; 48:468-475. [PMID: 37279705 PMCID: PMC10389797 DOI: 10.1159/000530887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. Albuminuria is an established risk factor, but additional biomarkers predicting CKD progression or CVD are needed. Arterial stiffness is an easily measurable parameter that has been associated with CVD and mortality. We evaluated the ability of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and urine albumin-creatinine (UAC) ratio to predict CKD progression, cardiovascular events, and mortality in a cohort of CKD patients. METHODS In CKD stage 3-5 patients, PWV and UAC were measured at baseline. CKD progression was defined as 50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), initiation of dialysis, or renal transplantation. A composite endpoint was defined as CKD progression, myocardial infarction, stroke, or death. Endpoints were analyzed using Cox regression analysis adjusted for possible confounders. RESULTS We included 181 patients (median age 69 [interquartile range 60-75] years, 67% males) with a mean eGFR of 37 ± 12 mL/min/1.73 m2 and UAC 52 (5-472) mg/g. Mean PWV was 10.6 m/s. Median follow-up until first event was 4 (3-6) years with 44 and 89 patients reaching a CKD progression or composite endpoint, respectively. UAC (g/g) significantly predicted both CKD progression (HR 1.5 [1.2; 1.8]) and composite endpoints (HR 1.4 [1.1; 1.7]) in adjusted Cox regression. In contrast, PWV (m/s) was not associated with neither CKD progression (HR 0.99 [0.84; 1.18]) nor the composite endpoint (HR 1.03 [0.92; 1.15]). CONCLUSION In an aging CKD population, UAC predicted both CKD progression and a composite endpoint of CKD progression, cardiovascular events, or death, while PWV did not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasmus Kirkeskov Carlsen
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Transplantation Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Danny Jensen
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Henrik Birn
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Biomedicine, HEALTH, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Niels Henrik Buus
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Biomedicine, HEALTH, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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van der Hoek S, Stevens J. Current Use and Complementary Value of Combining in Vivo Imaging Modalities to Understand the Renoprotective Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors at a Tissue Level. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:837993. [PMID: 35264970 PMCID: PMC8899288 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.837993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) were initially developed to treat diabetes and have been shown to improve renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with- but also without diabetes. The mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects are incompletely understood, as is the response variability between- and within patients. Imaging modalities allow in vivo quantitative assessment of physiological, pathophysiological, and pharmacological processes at kidney tissue level and are therefore increasingly being used in nephrology. They provide unique insights into the renoprotective effects of SGLT2i and the variability in response and may thus contribute to improved treatment of the individual patient. In this mini-review, we highlight current work and opportunities of renal imaging modalities to assess renal oxygenation and hypoxia, fibrosis as well as interaction between SGLT2i and their transporters. Although every modality allows quantitative assessment of particular parameters of interest, we conclude that especially the complementary value of combining imaging modalities in a single clinical trial aids in an integrated understanding of the pharmacology of SGLT2i and their response variability.
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Khatir DS, Carlsen RK, Ivarsen P, Jespersen B, Pedersen M, Christensen KL, Buus NH. Effects of enhanced versus reduced vasodilating treatment on brachial and central blood pressure in patients with chronic kidney disease: a randomized controlled trial. J Hypertens 2021; 39:2232-2240. [PMID: 34313633 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000002942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) control is important in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but a reduction in brachial BP may not mirror changes in central aortic BP (cBP) during antihypertensive medication. We hypothesize that a fall in cBP is better reflected during enhanced vasodilation treatment (EVT) compared with reduced vasodilation treatment (RVT) because of different hemodynamic actions of these interventions. METHODS Eighty-one hypertensive CKD stage 3-4 patients (mean measured glomerular filtration rate 36 ml/min per 1.73 m2) were randomized to either EVT based on renin--angiotensin blockade and/or amlodipine or RVT based on nonvasodilating β-blockade (metoprolol). Before randomization and following 18 months of treatment, we performed 24-h ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM) and radial artery pulse wave analysis for estimation of cBP and augmentation index (AIx). Forearm resistance (Rrest) was determined by venous occlusion plethysmography and arterial stiffness by carotid--femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). Matched healthy controls were studied once for comparison. RESULTS Compared with controls, CKD patients had elevated ABPM, cBP and PWV. Although ABPM remained unchanged from baseline to follow-up in both treatment groups, cBP decreased 4.7/2.9 mmHg (systolic/diastolic) during EVT and increased 5.1/1.5 mmHg during RVT (Δ=9.8/4.4 mmHg, P=0.02 for SBP, P = 0.05 for DBP). At follow-up, the difference between systolic cBP and 24-h ABPM (ΔBPsyst) was negatively associated with heart rate and positively associated with AIx and Rrest (all P < 0.01) but not PWV (P = 0.32). CONCLUSION In CKD patients, EVT and RVT have opposite effects on cBP and the difference between cBP and ambulatory BP is larger for EVT than RVT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Per Ivarsen
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital
| | | | - Michael Pedersen
- Comparative Medicine Lab, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University
| | | | - Niels Henrik Buus
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Theodorakopoulou MP, Dipla K, Zafeiridis A, Sarafidis P. Εndothelial and microvascular function in CKD: Evaluation methods and associations with outcomes. Eur J Clin Invest 2021; 51:e13557. [PMID: 33774823 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Endothelial dysfunction, the hallmark of atherosclerosis, is suggested to be involved pathogenetically in cardiovascular and renal disease progression in these patients. METHODS This is a narrative review presenting the techniques and markers used for assessment of microvascular and endothelial function in patients with CKD and discussing findings of the relevant studies on the associations of endothelial dysfunction with co-morbid conditions and outcomes in this population. RESULTS Venous Occlusion Plethysmography was the first method to evaluate microvascular function; subsequently, several relevant techniques have been developed and used in patients with CKD, including brachial Flow-Mediated Dilatation, and more recently, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Laser Speckle Contrast Analysis. Furthermore, several circulating biomarkers are commonly used in clinical research. Studies assessing endothelial function using the above techniques and biomarkers suggest that endothelial dysfunction occurs early in CKD and contributes to the target organ damage, cardiovascular events, death and progression towards end-stage kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS Older and newer functional methods and several biomarkers have assessed endothelial dysfunction in CKD; accumulated evidence supports an association of endothelial dysfunction with outcomes. Future research with new, non-invasive and easily applicable methods could further delineate the role of endothelial dysfunction on cardiovascular and renal disease progression in patients with CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieta P Theodorakopoulou
- Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantina Dipla
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
| | - Andreas Zafeiridis
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
| | - Pantelis Sarafidis
- Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Srivastava A, Tomar B, Prajapati S, Gaikwad AB, Mulay SR. Advanced non-invasive diagnostic techniques for visualization and estimation of kidney fibrosis. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:2053-2063. [PMID: 33617976 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Kidney fibrosis is marked by excessive extracellular matrix deposition during disease progression. Unfortunately, existing kidney function parameters do not predict the extent of kidney fibrosis. Moreover, the traditional histology methods for the assessment of kidney fibrosis require liquid and imaging biomarkers as well as needle-based biopsies, which are invasive and often associated with kidney injury. The repetitive analyses required to monitor the disease progression are therefore difficult. Hence, there is an unmet medical need for non-invasive and informative diagnostic approaches to monitor kidney fibrosis during the progression of chronic kidney disease. Here, we summarize the modern advances in diagnostic imaging techniques that have shown promise for non-invasive estimation of kidney fibrosis in pre-clinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Srivastava
- Division of Pharmacology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India
| | - Bhawna Tomar
- Division of Pharmacology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India
| | - Smita Prajapati
- Division of Pharmacology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India
| | - Anil Bhanudas Gaikwad
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, 333031, India
| | - Shrikant R Mulay
- Division of Pharmacology, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226031, India.
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Theodorakopoulou MP, Schoina M, Sarafidis P. Assessment of Endothelial and Microvascular Function in CKD: Older and Newer Techniques, Associated Risk Factors, and Relations with Outcomes. Am J Nephrol 2020; 51:931-949. [PMID: 33311014 DOI: 10.1159/000512263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelium is the inner cellular lining of the vessels that modulates multiple biological processes including vasomotor tone, permeability, inflammatory responses, hemostasis, and angiogenesis. Endothelial dysfunction, the basis of atherosclerosis, is characterized by an imbalance between endothelium-derived relaxing factors and endothelium-derived contracting factors. SUMMARY Starting from the semi-invasive venous occlusion plethysmography, several functional techniques have been developed to evaluate microvascular function and subsequently used in patients with CKD. Flow-mediated dilatation of the forearm is considered to be the "gold standard," while in the last years, novel, noninvasive methods such as laser speckle contrast imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy are scarcely used. Moreover, several circulating biomarkers of endothelial function have been used in studies in CKD patients. This review summarizes available functional methods and biochemical markers for the assessment of endothelial and microvascular function in CKD and discusses existing evidence on their associations with comorbid conditions and outcomes in this population. Key Messages: Accumulated evidence suggests that endothelial dysfunction occurs early in CKD and is associated with target organ damage, progression of renal injury, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Novel methods evaluating microvascular function can offer a detailed, real-time assessment of underlying phenomena and should be increasingly used to shed more light on the role of endothelial dysfunction on cardiovascular and renal disease progression in CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieta P Theodorakopoulou
- Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Schoina
- Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Pantelis Sarafidis
- Department of Nephrology, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece,
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Buus NH, Carlsen RK, Hughes AD, Skov K. Influence of Renal Transplantation and Living Kidney Donation on Large Artery Stiffness and Peripheral Vascular Resistance. Am J Hypertens 2020; 33:234-242. [PMID: 31678997 DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpz175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vascular status following renal transplantation (RT) may improve while living kidney donation (LKD) is possibly associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. METHODS We prospectively assessed glomerular filtration rate (mGFR, 51Chrome EDTA clearance) and intermediate vascular risk factors in terms of blood pressure (BP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), central augmentation index (AIx), excess pressure (Pexcess), and forearm vascular resistance in donors (n = 58, 45 ± 13 years) and recipients (n = 51, 50 ± 12 years) before and one year following LKD or RT. RESULTS After kidney donation, mGFR decreased by 33% to 65 ± 11 ml/min/1.73m2, while recipients obtained a mGFR of 55 ± 9 ml/min/1.73m.2 Ambulatory 24-hour mean arterial BP (MAP) remained unchanged in donors but decreased by 5 mm Hg in recipients (P < 0.05). Carotid-femoral PWV increased by 0.3 m/s in donors (P < 0.05) but remained unchanged in recipients. AIx was unaltered after LKD but decreased following RT (P < 0.01), and Pexcess did not change in either group. Resting forearm resistance (Rrest), measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, increased after LKD (P < 0.05) but was unaffected by RT, while no changes were seen in minimum resistance (Rmin). ΔPWV showed a positive linear association to Δ24-hour MAP in both groups. Multiple linear regression analysis (adjusting for age, gender, and the baseline value of the studied parameter) did not detect independent effects of graft function on 24-hour MAP, PWV, AIx, vascular resistance, or Pexcess, whereas low post-donation GFR was related to higher AIx and Rrest. CONCLUSIONS RT reduced BP and AIx without affecting PWV, whereas LKD resulted in increased PWV and Rrest, despite unchanged BP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels H Buus
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Institute of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Rasmus K Carlsen
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Alun D Hughes
- Institute of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Population Science and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, London, UK
| | - Karin Skov
- Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging to assess renal perfusion: a systematic review and statement paper. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2019; 33:3-21. [PMID: 31422518 PMCID: PMC7210220 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-019-00772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Objective Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) is a non-invasive method used to compute blood flow velocity and volume. This systematic review aims to discuss the current status of renal PC-MRI and provide practical recommendations which could inform future clinical studies and its adoption in clinical practice. Methodology A comprehensive search of all the PC-MRI studies in human healthy subjects or patients related to the kidneys was performed. Results A total of 39 studies were included in which PC-MRI was used to measure renal blood flow (RBF) alongside other derivative hemodynamic parameters. PC-MRI generally showed good correlation with gold standard methods of RBF measurement, both in vitro and in vivo, and good reproducibility. Despite PC-MRI not being routinely used in clinical practice, there are several clinical studies showing its potential to support diagnosis and monitoring of renal diseases, in particular renovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Discussion Renal PC-MRI shows promise as a non-invasive technique to reliably measure RBF, both in healthy volunteers and in patients with renal disease. Future multicentric studies are needed to provide definitive normative ranges and to demonstrate the clinical potential of PC-MRI, likely as part of a multi-parametric renal MRI protocol. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10334-019-00772-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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