Evaluation of Early Diabetic Kidney Disease Using Ultrasound Localization Microscopy: A Feasibility Study

Objective The purpose of this study is to detect the hemodynamic changes of microvessels in the early stage of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and to test the feasibility of ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) in early diagnosis of DKD. Methods In this study, streptozotocin (STZ) induced DKD rat model was used. Normal rats served as the control group. Conventional ultrasound, contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), and ULM data were collected and analyzed. The kidney cortex was divided into four segments, which are 0.25–0.5 mm (Segment 1), 0.5–0.75 mm (Segment 2), 0.75–1 mm (Segment 3), and 1–1.25 mm (Segment 4) away from the renal capsule, respectively. The mean blood flow velocities of arteries and veins in each segment were separately calculated, and also the velocity gradients and overall mean velocities of arteries and veins. Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparison of the data. Results Quantitative results of microvessel velocity obtained by ULM show that the arterial velocity of Segments 2, 3, and 4, and the overall mean arterial velocity of the four segments in the DKD group are significantly lower than those in the normal group. The venous velocity of Segment 3 and the overall mean venous velocity of the four segments in the DKD group are higher than those in the normal group. The arterial velocity gradient in the DKD group is lower than that in the normal group. Conclusion ULM can visualize and quantify the blood flow and may be used for early diagnosis of DKD.