A Novel Ultrasound Technique to Detect Early Chronic Kidney Disease
NRC Grant No: 16-044
Research Institute: University of Colombo
Area of Research: Medical Physics
Summary
The unique form of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) that has been identified among paddy farmers in Sri Lanka is a major public health issue. To date, no specific treatment has shown to arrest the progression of CKD, which ultimately will require dialysis or kidney transplantation. In general CKD is asymptomatic until at least two-thirds of the functional capacity of the kidneys is already lost. The main challenges to improve outcomes in patients with CKD are the lack of biomarkers to detect CKD early in its progression.
In this study, we will develop a novel method to detect and quantify CKD based on Ultrasound radio frequency (RF) echo signal characteristics. Ours is a novel approach as it uses properties of fundamental tissue-wave interactions as opposed to ultrasound image properties. An added advantage of using RF echo data is that it does not require heavy, sophisticated equipment to acquire the data. Two aims will be accomplished. In Aim 1, we will conduct ex-vivo tissue studies followed by a clinical Ultrasound study in patients with CKD to identify potential RF echo data characteristics that correlates with disease severity. In Aim 2 we will construct a simple, portable Ultrasound system to acquire and analyze Ultrasound RF data.
Objectives
General objective:
Aim 1: Develop novel Ultrasound imaging parameters to quantitate CKD
We will conduct ex-vivo tissue studies followed by a clinical Ultrasound study in patients with CKD to identify potential radio frequency (RF) echo data characteristics that correlates with disease severity.
Aim 2: Develop a simple/portable Ultrasonic imaging system for early detection of CKD We will construct a simple, portable Ultrasound system to acquire and analyze Ultrasound RF data.
Our long term goal is to develop a research program at the University of Colombo to address scientific questions related to the field of medical physics in the Sri Lankan context. The current proposal focused on a major health issue faced by Sri Lanka, is a primary focus of this group and is critical to the advancement of this program in terms of building infrastructure and expertise.
The proposed study is the first step towards establishing an early detecting methodology for CKD. Successful completion of the proposed study will identify novel Ultrasound (US) imaging parameters of CKD based on US radio frequency echo data and result in US technology to measure it.
It should be emphasized that pre-clinical studies must be conducted to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the US parameters developed in this study. Then they must validated as a disease-predictive tool in alternative cohort studies or randomized controlled trials. These will be the topics of future studies of our group.