Diffusion tensor imaging MRI of sickle cell kidney disease: initial results and comparison with iron deposition

Background Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) occurs in over one third of patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and can progress to end-stage renal disease. Unfortunately, current clinical assessments of kidney function are insensitive to early-stage CKD. Prior studies have shown that diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can sensitively detect regional renal microstructure changes associated with early-stage chronic kidney disease. However, previous MRI studies in sickle cell disease patients have been largely limited to detection of renal iron deposition assessed by T2* relaxometry. In this pilot imaging study, we compare MRI assessments of renal microstructure (diffusion) and iron deposition (T2*) in SCD patients and non-SCD control subjects.