Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Medullary Sponge Kidney (MICARI)

Multiparametric MRI Imaging of Medullary Sponge Kidney

Background :

Medullary sponge kidney disease is a congenital disorder caracterised by tubular ectasia and cystic dilatation of the collecting ducts in the pericalyceal region of the renal pyramids, which can lead to nephrolithiasis and frequently associated with impaired tubular function such as distal renal tubular acidosis.

The disease knowledge is limited, especially about origin, diagnosis, and physiopathology of the disease.

The disease is associated with impaired tubular function such as distal renal tubular acidosis, hypocitraturia, hypercalciuria, which suggest altered kidney medulla function.

Multiparametric MRI may provide further informations about the physiopathology and help in earlier diagnosis of the medullary sponge kidney.

Objective :

The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that early kidney medulla function alteration in medullary sponge kidney can be detected and characterised with multiparametric MRI. We are expecting to see in medullary sponge kidney a decreased oxygenation content in BOLD MRI (Blood oxygenation level dependent magnetic resonance imaging), and decreased ADC (Apparent diffusion coefficient) value in the medulla.

Design :

A monocentric prospective case/control study will be conducted in adults with medullary sponge kidney. Controls are adults patients with glomerular filtration rate > 60 mL/min/1.73m2 without kidney stone attending a renal exploration.

After a screening visit, patients included will be evaluated on one day with lithiasis assessment and measurement of glomerular filtration (Urinary collection of the last 24 hours, Urine sample, Blood sample) and they will perform multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging of the kidneys.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Medullary Sponge Kidney
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Multiparametic MRI

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 33
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Lyon, France, 69003
    • Hôpital Edouard Herriot

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• medullary sponge kidney attending medical consultation
• Patients with glomerular filtration rate > 60 mL/min/1.73m2 without kidney stone
• consent signed
• effective contraceptive method for women
• affiliated to social insurance scheme

Exclusion Criteria:

• kidney transplant
• polycystic kidney diseases
• Chronic kidney disease (GFR < 60 mL/min/1,73m² )
• MRI contraindications (claustrophobia, pacemaker, cardioverter defibrillators implantable, mechanical heart valve non MRI-compatible)
• Weight> 130 kg
• pregnancy
• legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship)
• Deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision
• subject participating in another research that may interfere with the research and including an exclusion period still in progress at inclusion

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: patients with medullary sponge kidney; Patients with medullary sponge kidney attending medical consultation	Diagnostic test: Multiparametic MRI; patients will have a Multiparametric MRI
Other: Patients with glomerular filtration rate > 60 mL/min/1.73m2 without kidney stone; Patients with glomerular filtration rate > 60 mL/min/1.73m2 without kidney stone attending a renal exploration.	Diagnostic test: Multiparametic MRI; patients will have a Multiparametric MRI

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Comparaison of R2* values measured by BOLD MRI beetween medullary sponge kidney patients and controls.	Comparaison of R2* values measured by BOLD MRI between medullary sponge kidney patients and controls. R2* is related to the level of tissue deoxyhemoglobin, which reflect tissue oxygenation. Increases in its outcome measure R2* (transverse relaxation rate expressed as per second) correspond to higher deoxyhaemoglobin concentrations and suggest lower oxygenation, whereas decreases in R2* indicate higher oxygenation.	Day 0

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Comparaison of ADC value measured by diffusion-weighted MRI beetween medullary sponge kidney patients and controls.	Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is a non-invasive method sensitive to local water motion in the tissue, which is particularly sensitive to alterations in the renal interstitium, e.g. during renal fibrosis	Day 0

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Comparaison of T1 Value measured by T1 mapping MRI between medullary sponge kidney patients and controls.	T1 mapping is a MRI sequence to estimate renal fibrosis	Day 0
Comparaison of T2 Value measured by T2 mapping MRI between medullary sponge kidney patients and controls.	T2 mapping is a MRI sequence to estimate renal alteration	Day 0
In medullary sponge kidney patients, evaluation of the association between kidney function and : - ADC value measured by diffusion-weighted MRI - T1 Value measured by T1 mapping MRI - T2 Value measured by T2 mapping MRI		Day 0
In medullary sponge kidney patients, evaluation of the association between 24 hours calciuria and : - ADC value measured by diffusion-weighted MRI - T1 Value measured by T1 mapping MRI - T2 Value measured by T2 mapping MRI	exploration if medulla modifications can lead to hypercalciuria	Day 0
In medullary sponge kidney patients, evaluation of the association between 24 hours citraturia and : - ADC value measured by diffusion-weighted MRI - T1 Value measured by T1 mapping MRI - T2 Value measured by T2 mapping MRI	exploration if medulla modifications can lead to hypocitraturia	Day 0
In medullary sponge kidney patients, evaluation of the association between urine pH and : - ADC value measured by diffusion-weighted MRI - T1 Value measured by T1 mapping MRI - T2 Value measured by T2 mapping MRI	exploration if medulla modifications is correlated to urine pH modifications	Day 0
In medullary sponge kidney patients, evaluation of the association between maximum urinary osmolarity and : - ADC value measured by diffusion-weighted MRI - T1 Value measured by T1 mapping MRI -T2 Value measured by T2 mapping MRI	exploration if medulla modifications can lead to a decrease of renal concentration ability	Day 0

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Tournebize C, De Mul A, Abid N, Portefaix A, Pacaud S, Schleef M, Derain-Dubourg L, Rouviere O, Lemoine S. Medullary sponge kidney: in-depth phenotyping for a better understanding of functional and structural abnormalities. J Nephrol. 2025 Nov;38(8):2363-2373. doi: 10.1007/s40620-025-02413-3. Epub 2025 Sep 19.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 27, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 8, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): January 8, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 27, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 27, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): January 12, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 5, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 28, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: kidney stone; multiparametric MRI; medullary sponge kidney; medullary function
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Calculi; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urolithiasis; Urinary Calculi; Nephrolithiasis; Kidney Diseases, Cystic; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Kidney Calculi; Medullary Sponge Kidney
• Other Study ID Numbers: 69HCL22_0366; 2022-A01467-36 (Other Identifier: ANSM)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No