Quantitative MRI Markers for Cystic Kidney Disease Progression in an ARPKD Rat Model

¹Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; ²Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; ³Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; ⁴Rammelkamp Center for Education and Research, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD), overall kidney function diminishes only after significant disease progression. In addition, ARPKD is characterized by both macrocysts and microcysts which are not consistently delineated by conventional diagnostic imaging techniques. Our initial results in the PCK rat model of ARPKD demonstrate that quantitative MRI techniques such as Diffusion Weighted Imaging overcome this obstacle and allow non-invasive monitoring of ARPKD disease progression. We have also developed a quantitative analysis methodology to provide consistent characterization of ARPKD kidneys that can be easily translated to clinical applications.