Kidney Sodium Functional Imaging
Recruiting now NCT05014178
Run by London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · for 18 and older · All sexes · accepts healthy volunteers
What this study is about
The corticomedullary gradient is largely responsible for developing the gradients that are needed to concentrate urine (more solutes and less water). The ability of the kidneys to produce concentrated urine is a major determinant of the ability to survive the warm weather. When temperatures are high, we lose water through sweat, and so the kidneys retain water to maintain fluidity in the blood. The maintenance of a sodium (salt) gradient is required for urine concentration because increased medullary sodium concentration increases the reabsorption of water into the kidney, to be redistributed in the blood. The purpose of this study is to know if the corticomedullary gradient is altered in patients across a wide spectrum of kidney disease using sodium Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a machine that takes pictures and measures the salt content in the kidneys. 23Na kidney MRI, will provide functional MR of the kidney as a non-invasive tool to describe medullary function to improve management of chronic and kidney disease.
Who can join (things the study team will check)
✅ You may be able to join if…
- Age ≥ 18 years
- For healthy controls: lack of kidney disease, heart failure, liver cirrhosis and peripheral edema
- For CKD stage 1-5: Estimated GFR < 90 mL/min/1.73m²
- For patients on maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis: more than 3 months duration of therapy
🚫 You may not be able to join if…
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or intending pregnancy
- Contraindication to MRI
- Inability to tolerate MRI due to patient size and/or known history of claustrophobia.
- Mechanically implanted, electrically, or magnetically activated device or any metal in their body which cannot be removed, including but not limited to pacemakers, neurostimulators, biostimulators, implanted insulin pumps, aneurysm clips, bioprosthesis, artificial limb, metallic fragment or foreign body, tattoos, shunt, surgical staples (including clips or metallic sutures and/or ear implants.)
Where this trial is running
- Victoria Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
Who to contact
Christopher W McIntyre, MD · 5196858500 · christopher.mcintyre@lhsc.on.ca
It's completely normal to call and ask questions before deciding anything. Mention the study ID: NCT05014178.
Verify everything on the official ClinicalTrials.gov record. Page updated July 2026.