Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis in the post-CORAL era part 1: the renal penumbra concept and next-generation functional diagnostic imaging

Future of kidney imaging: Functional magnetic resonance imaging and kidney disease progression

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) which is a common cause of death has an increasing trend, but there is no established approach for predicting CKD progression yet. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies such as blood oxygenation level-dependent MRI (BOLD-MRI), diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI-MRI), diffusion-tensor MRI (DTI-MRI) and arterial spin labelling MRI (ASL-MRI) are rising methods for the assessment of kidney functions in native and transplanted kidneys as well as the estimation of CKD progression.

METHODS

Systematic literature review was performed through the Embase (Elsevier), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley), PubMed/Medline and Web of Science databases, and studies investigating the role of fMRI methods assessing kidney functions in native and transplanted kidneys, as well as the value of fMRI methods to predict CKD progression, were included. Working mechanisms, advantages and limitations of the fMRI modalities were reviewed, and three studies investigating the role of fMRI studies in kidney functions were analysed.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

BOLD-MRI signal was found to be inversely correlated with annual eGFR change, and DWI/ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient map) values were shown to be correlated with annual eGFR decline. fMRI methods which are currently used for other systems can be utilized to provide more detailed information about kidney functions, and doctors should be ready to interpret kidney MRIs.

Renal artery intervention utilizing carbon dioxide angiography

Carbon dioxide angiography is an established non-nephrotoxic option for imaging of the infradiaphragmatic arteries and veins. Safe performance of the technique once required a somewhat cumbersome system, however, recent innovations have simplified implementation and expanded the user base for this technique. As such, patient access has also increased. In this issue, Hameed et al. provide initial feasibility data regarding carbon dioxide angiography and renal denervation therapy. This experience may be translated into future renovascular interventions in patients with limited renal reserve.

Split renal function in patients with unilateral atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis-effect of renal angioplasty

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) on split renal function (SRF) in patients with unilateral atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutively examined patients at our centre with significant ARAS undergoing PTRA during 2002-07. A significant ARAS was defined as a lesion with a trans-stenotic mean arterial pressure gradient of at least 10 mmHg or a diameter stenosis >50% on angiography. Ambulatory (24 h) systolic and diastolic blood pressure (ASBP and ADBP, respectively) and calculated SRF using ^99mTc-DTPA renal scintigraphy were evaluated before (baseline) and 4 weeks after PTRA.

RESULTS

ASBP and ADBP were significantly lower 4 weeks after PTRA compared with baseline levels. Although total estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation) had not changed by PTRA, analysis of SRF showed significantly increased eGFR in stenotic kidneys and a comparable reduction in eGFR in non-stenotic kidneys 4 weeks after PTRA.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with unilateral ARAS, PTRA significantly improved eGFR in stenotic kidneys and decreased filtration in contralateral, non-stenotic kidneys. These potentially beneficial effects may not be apparent when total renal function remains stable. The clinical significance of these findings needs to be evaluated further.

Revisiting angioplasty for renovascular hypertension

Following contemporary trends in arterial endovascular therapy of the lower extremities, recent major trials in anti-hypertensive renovascular revascularization have focused on outcomes after primary stenting of the renal artery. Angioplasty-only therapy has not been studied in a major trial since the year 2000. As such, the current study by Saeed et al. presents an updated data set on the technique with one unique aspect: patients underwent post-procedural physiologic scintigraphy to document the effects of unilateral intervention in patients with two kidneys. Although these physiologic changes should not supersede the clinically relevant outcome of blood pressure reduction (which was also accomplished in this study albeit to a modest but statistically significant degree), the physiologic consequences of unilateral intervention are elegantly presented in this short-term follow-up study. Furthermore, while current renovascular intervention is trending towards treatment of global renal ischemia (i.e. bilateral renal artery stenosis or renal artery stenosis in a congenitally or acquired solitary functional kidney scenario), the current study provides a useful data set for reference in guiding future renovascular revascularization studies and treatment algorithms.

The concept of crosstalk-directed embryological target mining and its application to essential hypertension treatment failures

This review aims to introduce the novel concept of embryological target mining applied to interorgan crosstalk network genesis, and applies embryological target mining to multidrug-resistant essential hypertension (a prototype, complex, undertreated, multiorgan systemic syndrome) to uncover new treatment targets and critique why existing strategies fail. Briefly, interorgan crosstalk pathways represent the next frontier for target mining in molecular medicine. This is because stereotyped stepwise organogenesis presents a unique opportunity to infer interorgan crosstalk pathways that may be crucial to discovering novel treatment targets. Insights gained from this review will be applied to patient management in a clinician-directed fashion.

Brain-kidney cross-talk: Definition and emerging evidence

Cross-talk is broadly defined as endogenous homeostatic signaling between vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and brain. Kidney-brain cross-talk remains an area with excitingly few publications despite its purported clinical relevance in the management of currently undertreated conditions such as resistant hypertension. Therefore, this review aims to establish an organ-specific definition for kidney-brain cross-talk and review the available and forthcoming literature on this topic.

Approach to atherosclerotic renovascular disease: 2016

The management of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis in patients with hypertension or impaired renal function remains a clinical dilemma. The current general consensus, supported by the results of the Angioplasty and Stenting for Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions and Cardiovascular Outcomes for Renal Artery Lesions trials, argues strongly against endovascular intervention in favor of optimal medical management. We discuss the limitations and implications of the contemporary clinical trials and present our approach and formulate clear recommendations to help with the management of patients with atherosclerotic narrowing of the renal artery.