The Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] in The Detection of Structural Brain Abnormalities and Cerebellar Volume Changes in Pediatric Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

ABSRACT: Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is considered an important risk factor for acute and chronic subclinical brain injury and its sequel on the brain remains inadequately outlined. This study aimed to detect different structural brain abnormalities that may occur in pediatric patient with chronic kidney disease [PCKD] and to detect cerebellar volume reduction compared to healthy controls of same age group using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Vol brain system. METHODS: The sample size was 70 pediatric patients. A total of 35 children [ age group ranging from 2–15 years old], with a diagnosis of CKD stages 3–5, [GFR up to 59 mL/min/1.73m2], and 35 healthy peers of same age group were included. Volumetric data from MRI and Vol brain system and neurocognitive tests were compared between two studied groups. RESULTS: Total cerebellar volume and cerebellar gray matter volume were significantly reduced in pCKD in comparison to control group of same age group, [**p≤0.001]. In contrast, the cerebellar white matter volume wasn't significantly affected [p>0.05]. And despite the significant reduction in neurocognition in pCKD in comparison to control group, there was non-significant relation between this reduction and brain volume changes in the cerebellum. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary prove of the role of MRI as a qualitative method to diagnose possible structural abnormalities that can occur with pCKD , and as a quantitative measure to detect possible volume changes that can occur in the cerebellum. Keywords: pediatric chronic kidney disease ; Brain volumetry; neurocognition; brain structural abnormalities.