Abstract

BACKGROUND:
diabetic nephropathy is being recognized as a worldwide public problem with high cost and poor
outcomes, there is increase in the incidence and prevalence of renal failure all over the world.
Functional renal imaging methods such as diffusion- weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI),
has been shown to be a promising technique in the evaluation of renal function
OBJECTIVE:
To study the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the detection and evaluation of
diabetic nephropathy, correlating these values with the clinical stage of diabetic nephropathy and to
compare these findings with diabetic patient without nephropathy.
PAT IENTS AND METHODS:
A cross sectional analytic study was conducted in MRI unit of Radiology department at Al-Imamein
Al-Kadhimyain medical city through period form 1st oct.2017 to 30 of July 2018, 80 diabetic
patients were classified according to GFR into two groups; group I 40 patients (diabetic patient with
no nephropathy) group II 40 patients (diabetic patients with nephropathy). DWI ( b value ,0 and
1000 s/mm2) was performed in two group of the study . The mean ADC value of renal cortex was
calculated from three regions positioned in the upper, mid and lower third of the kidney.
The Relationship between ADC value and stage of diabetic nephropathy were assessed.
RESULTS:
In comparing diabetic patients (with no nephropathy) with patient with diabetic nephropathy, there
was significant decline in mean ADC value among patients with advanced stages of diabetic
nephropathy(p< 0.001). The mean ADC value with diabetic nephropathy was significantly lower
among patients with type I DM (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION:
The magnetic resonance imaging-apparent diffusion coefficient value is an appropriate method for
assessment and evaluation of diabetic nephropathy and is a reliable diagnostic tool for