Horizontal analysis and longitudinal cohort study of chronic renal failure correlates and cerebral small vessel disease relationship using peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity

Background and purposePeak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD) is an MRI-based biomarker that may reflect white matter lesions (WML). PSMD is based on skeletonization of MR DTI data and histogram analysis. Both chronic renal failure (CRF) and WML may be affected by multisystemic small-vessel disorder. We aimed to explore the relationship between PSMD and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).MethodsFifty followed-up CRF patients matched for age, sex, hypertension and smoking status were enrolled and classified into a progressive group (n = 16) and stable group (n = 34) based on eGFR levels. Longitudinal and horizontal differences of PSMD were compared between the progressive and stable groups at the initial and follow-up time points. Pearson’s correlation was used for correlation of eGFR with PSMD and WML (per Fazekas scale score). ROC was used to measure the sensitivity of PSMD and WML score to changes of eGFR.ResultsAt the follow-up time point, PSMD of the progressive group was significantly higher than at the initial time point (p