Editorial for "Perfusion and T-2 Relaxation Time as Predictors of Severity and Outcome in Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Preclinical MRI Study"

Background: Preventing sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) can be challenging because it develops rapidly and is often asymptomatic. Probability assessment of disease progression for therapeutic follow-up and outcome are important to intervene and prevent further damage. Purpose: To establish a noninvasive multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) tool, including T1, T2, and perfusion mapping, for probability assessment of the outcome of S-AKI. Study Type: Preclinical randomized prospective study. Animal Model: One hundred and forty adult female SD rats (65 control and 75 sepsis). Field Strength/Sequence: 9.4T; T1 and perfusion map (FAIR-EPI) and T2 map (multiecho RARE). Assessment: Experiment 1: To identify renal injury in relation to sepsis severity, serum creatinine levels were determined (31 control and 35 sepsis). Experiment 2: Animals underwent mpMRI (T1, T2, perfusion) 18 hours postsepsis. A subgroup of animals was immediately sacrificed for histology examination (nine control and seven sepsis). Result of mpMRI in follow-up subgroup (25 control and 33 sepsis) was used to predict survival outcomes at 96 hours. Statistical Tests: Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman/Pearson correlation (r), P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Severely ill septic animals exhibited significantly increased serum creatinine levels compared to controls (70 +/- 30 vs. 34 +/- 9 mu mol/L, P < 0.0001). Cortical perfusion (480 +/- 80 vs. 330 +/- 140 mL/100 g tissue/min, P < 0.005), and cortical and medullary T2 relaxation time constants were significantly reduced compared to controls (41 +/- 4 vs. 37 +/- 5 msec in cortex, P < 0.05, 52 +/- 7 vs. 45 +/- 6 msec in medulla, P < 0.05). The combination of cortical T2 relaxation time constants and perfusion results at 18 hours could predict survival outcomes at 96 hours with high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (73%) (area under curve of ROC = 0.8, J(max) = 0.52). Data Conclusion: This preclinical study suggests combined T2 relaxation time and perfusion mapping as first line diagnostic tool for treatment planning.