MRI assessment of skin and muscle sodium (23Na) and fluid volume in haemodialysis patients

Motivation: To improve understanding of sodium and water balance in haemodialysis patients. Goal(s): To study sodium stores in leg muscle and skin in younger and older healthy individuals, and haemodialysis patients, and to assess sodium and water changes following a single haemodialysis session. Approach: Sodium (23Na) MRI of calf skin and muscle in younger older and haemodialysis(HD) patients. 23Na MRI, and 1H mDIXON and T2 relaxometry to study sodium and water content to haemodialysis. Results: Haemodialysis led to a significant reduction in muscle sodium whilst skin sodium showed little detectable change, 1H muscle T2 values showed a significant reduction. Impact: Sodium (23Na) MRI of muscle allows the study of sodium storage with age and in dialysis patients. 23Na and proton (1H) T2 mapping enable the assessment of changes in sodium storage and fluid status in haemodialysis patients.