Clinical study on the use of advanced magnetic resonance imaging in lupus nephritis

To investigate the correlation between the histopathology of the kidney and clinical indicators in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

A total 50 female participants were enrolled in the study. Thirty patients with LN were divided into types 2, 3, 4, and 5, according to their pathological features. The control group consisted of 20 healthy female volunteers. Serum creatinine, C3, C1q, and anti-ds-DNA were measured. Conventional MRI, DTI, DWI, and BOLD scanning was performed to obtain the FA, ADC, and R2* values for the kidney.

Compared with the control group, FA and the ADC were decreased in patients with LN, while the R2* value was increased (P < 0.05). The overall comparison of the SLEDAI (Activity index of systemic lupus erythematosus) score, total pathological score, AI, and serum creatinine C3 showed that these were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). FA and the ADC were negatively correlated with urinary, blood ds-DNA, and serum creatinine and positively correlated with C1q (P < 0.05). The R2* value was positively correlated with urinary NGAL, blood ds-DNA, and serum creatinine (P < 0.05). FA and the ADC were negatively correlated with the SLEDAI score, total pathological score, AI, CI, nephridial tissue C3, and C1q. The R2* value was positively correlated with the SLEDAI score, total pathological score, AI, CI, nephridial tissue C3, and C1q (P < 0.05).

MRI examination in female patients with LN was correlated with pathologic test results, which may have clinical significance in determining the disease's severity, treatment, and outcome.