Hemodynamic analysis of renal artery stenosis using computational fluid dynamics technology based on unenhanced steady-state free precession magnetic resonance angiography: preliminary results

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology in analysis of renal artery stenosis (RAS) based on unenhanced MR angiography (MRA). Thirty hypertensive patients with unilateral RAS, and 10 normal volunteers, underwent unenhanced MRA on a 1.5 T MR scanner. 12 of 30 patients also underwent ultrasound (US) to detect peak systolic velocity. The patient-specific CFD based on MRA was carried out thereafter. Stenosis grades and hemodynamic variables at the stenosis of main renal artery, including pressure difference (PD), velocity and mass flow rate (MFR), were analysed. And the hemodynamic indices of stenoses were compared with the parameters of normal renal arteries and available US velocity profile. High intraclass correlation coefficient (value 0.995) and no significant difference (p > 0.05) was shown between maximum velocity of CFD and peak systolic velocity of US in 12 patients. For normal renal arteries, the average PD, velocity and MFR were all in the reported normal physiological range. However, for stenotic arteries, the translesional PD and velocity of main renal arteries increased with the severity of stenotic degrees, while the MFR decreased. 50% diameter stenosis was the threshold at which all three hemodynamic parameters experienced significant changes (p < 0.01). This preliminary study shows that unenhanced-MRA-based CFD can be utilized to noninvasively analyse hemodynamic parameters of RAS. The acquired variables may provide meaningful information regarding stratification of the stenosis and further therapeutic treatment.