MRI in Renal Transplantation

Renal transplantation is the optimal method of treatment for end stage kidney disease however median lifespan of a kidney transplant is around 15 years. Existing methods of measuring transplant function and structure from blood and urine markers are imperfect; renal biopsy is often performed but is invasive. Novel methods of investigating transplant function are therefore required and emerging renal MRI sequences including ASL and diffusion weighted imaging may yield helpful biomarkers. Investigators will recruit 20 patients in the first year after transplant and measure MRI biomarkers at three time points, with correlation to existing methods of measuring transplant function.