Diffusion MRI findings in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetes mellitus affecting 1-2% of world population, with a common feature of the high blood sugar is the term denoting many disorders. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal failure which is one of the most important complications and also is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. The aim of this study is to determine values of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) technique in the patients with diabetic nephropathy.Diffusion-Weighted Echo-Planar images (EPI) were taken from 50 patients with diabetic nephropaty and 50 healthy volunteers considered as the control group included in the study. Renal b100, b600 and b1000 values were measured.While mean ADC values of bilateral kidneys in patients with diabetic nephropaty were found as 3.33±0.35x10-3, 2.39±0.37x10-3, 1.97±0.20x10-3 sec/mm2 for b100, b600 and b1000 values, respectively; these values in the healthy volunteers considered as control group were determined as 3.42±0.26x10-3, 2.76±0.32x10-3, 2.18±0.21x10-3 sec /mm2 for b100, b600 and b1000, respectively. Renal ADC values in patients with diabetic nephropaty in terms of b600 (p= 0.001) and b1000 (p = 0.001) were found lower statistically significant than normal kidneys.As a result; DW-MRI were considered to be used for an imaging technique to help diagnosis and follow-up of diabetic nephropaty in patients with diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, diabetic nephropaty, ADC, echo-planar imaging, kidney