The Influence of Anthropometric Factors on Renal mpMRI: Insights From Regional Analysis

Luis Carlos Sanmiguel Serpa; Pieter de Visschere; Marijn Speeckaert; Pim Pullens

doi:10.1002/jmri.29638

The Influence of Anthropometric Factors on Renal mpMRI: Insights From Regional Analysis

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2024 Oct 28. doi: 10.1002/jmri.29638. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Luis Carlos Sanmiguel Serpa^{1

2

3}, Pieter de Visschere^{1

2}, Marijn Speeckaert^{4

5}, Pim Pullens^{1

3

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
² Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
³ Ghent Institute of Functional and Metabolic Imaging (GIFMI), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
⁴ Department of Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
⁵ Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium.
⁶ IBiTech - Medisip, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

PMID: 39466028
DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29638

Abstract

Background: Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) provides detailed insights into renal function, but the impact of anthropometric factors on renal imaging is not fully understood.

Purpose: To investigate regional correlations between mpMRI parameters and age, body mass index (BMI), and body surface area (BSA).

Study type: Prospective, cross-sectional observational study.

Population: Twenty-nine healthy volunteers (44.5 ± 18.3 years, 18 females) without a history of renal disease.

Field strength/sequence: 3-T, pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling, multi-echo gradient-recalled echo, diffusion-weighted imaging, T₁ and T₂ mapping.

Assessment: Bilateral kidneys were segmented into nine concentric layers (outer cortex to inner regions) and nine equiangular sections (lower to upper pole). Key parameters (renal blood flow [RBF], $R_{2}^{*}$ , apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC], T₁ and T₂ maps) were correlated with age, BMI, and BSA. Differences in parameters between age and BMI groups were also evaluated.

Statistical tests: Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney U test, and rank-biserial correlation coefficient for effect size. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: RBF correlated negatively with age in all regions and BMI in inner layers and lower pole. ADC negatively correlated with BMI (significance was not reached in layers 2, 7, 8; P-value = 0.06-0.12) and BSA in layers 1-7. T₁ negatively correlated with age in inner regions and lower medial pole. Significant positive correlations were found between age and $R_{2}^{*}$ (outermost layer, upper pole), age and T₂ (inner and cranial-caudal regions), as well as BMI and T₂ (except upper pole; P-value = 0.06). Significant differences between age groups were observed for RBF (all regions), $R_{2}^{*}$ (outermost and second innermost layers, central lateral region), T₁ (innermost layer), and T₂ (upper medial pole). Between BMI groups, ADC (middle layers, upper medial pole) and T₂ (outermost and inner layers, lower pole to lateral region) differed significantly.

Data conclusion: Intrarenal variance of mpMRI parameters correlated with age, BMI, and BSA.

Evidence level: 4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1.

Keywords: BMI; BSA; age; kidney; mpMRI; regional.