Evaluation of kidney injury using ASL and BOLD MRI: an experimental study in rats with CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis

Motivation: Noninvasive and sensitive methods for assessing chronic liver disease-associated kidney injury are needed in clinics. Goal(s): We investigated the potential of arterial spin labeling (ASL) and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) MRI for diagnosing and evaluating chronic liver disease-associated kidney injury progression. Approach: We observed the renal blood flow (RBF) and T2* changes in rats with CCl4-induced chronic liver disease and compared imaging, pathological, and biochemical indicators at different time points. Results: During chronic liver disease development in rats, RBF and T2* gradually decreased, and ASL and BOLD MRI were more sensitive than serum creatinine in diagnosing renal injury. Impact: Compared with serum creatinine, ASL and BOLD MRI exhibited more sensitive diagnostic value for liver cirrhosis-associated renal injury, providing a noninvasive and reliable method for monitoring kidney injury in patients with chronic liver disease.