Reduced Renal Apparent Diffusion Coefficient at Follow Up after COVID-19 Associated Acute Kidney Injury

• Severe Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with acute kidney injury (AKI) increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). In the present study we aimed to investigate the effects of severe COVID-19 on renal blood flow, perfusion, oxygenation and tissue characteristics in recovered patients using noninvasive multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-two patients, previously treated in the intensive care unit for COVID-19 were stratified depending on their degree of AKI during hospitalization. Patients without AKI were matched with those with AKI grade 1 and AKI grade 3 regarding age, sex, height, weight, body surface area (BSA) and body mass index (BMI). All patients had a normal measurement of creatinine within two years before hospitalization. An MRI scan was conducted 21±6 weeks after the first day of intensive care. Cortical and medullary apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) were significantly lower in the ´AKI grade 3´group compared to the ´no AKI´ group, 1.83±0.11 vs 2.16±0.13 x 10-3 mm2/s (p=0.001) for cortex and 1.84±0.04 vs 2.09±0.13 x 10-3 mm2/s (p=0.007) for medulla. Also, total renal blood flow (tRBF) and global perfusion were significantly lower in the ´AKI grade 3´ group compared to the ´no AKI´ group. No differences regarding renal oxygenation, T1 or T2 were found. We conclude that patients treated for severe COVID-19 with high grade AKI, show decreased cortical and medullary ADC and reduced total renal blood flow and global perfusion compared to similar patients without AKI at follow up approximately five months after intensive care. These findings might indicate incipient development of renal fibrosis. 

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)