Magnetic Resonance Elastography in Chronic Allograft Damage
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the role of magnetic resonance elastography as an early diagnostic marker of chronic allograft damage following renal transplantation
IRAS ID
235057
Contact name
Lorna Marson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 5 days
Research summary
Chronic allograft damage (CAD) is a significant cause of graft failure following renal transplantation. Characterised by fibrosis (scarring), it leads to the failure of up to 5% grafts annually and there are no specific therapies available. Two significant challenges face the transplant community in the context of CAD: discovery of potential therapies and early diagnosis, and the proposed investigation incorporates both these aspects, using a combination of imaging and molecular techniques. We have evidence to show that microRNA-214 (miR-214) plays an important role following renal injury as in a potential therapeutic target in the context of CAD. We also have evidence that it maybe a potential biomarker of fibrosis in a small cohort of patients with CAD on biopsy.
MR elastography (MRE) is a form of MRI that has been successfully used as an alternative to biopsy in patients with liver fibrosis and small studies have shown MRE can image fibrosis in other organs including kidney transplants.
We will recruit renal transplant recipients undergoing clinically indicated biopsies, and obtain serum and urine samples for assessment of miR-214 expression, as well as offering them to undergo MRE. We will determine whether miR-214 and MRE may provide useful diagnostic information when correlated with biopsy findings. Ultimately, we aim to demonstrate early fibrosis so that treatment can be instituted before there is a significant loss of kidney function. Importantly, this may also be used to track fibrosis, thus avoiding the need for repeated invasive biopsies.
Patients will be recruited from clinic. Consultants will identify suitable patients and pass details to the clinical research fellow.
Information from the scans WILL NOT be used influence treatment of participants.
We have full funding from Kidney Research UK.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
18/SS/0053
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion