Abstract: TH-PO0041
Ultrasound Localization Microscopy (ULM) for Noninvasive Ultrastructural Assessment of Microvascular Dynamics up to the Glomeruli
Session Information
- Bioengineering: MPS, Flow, and Delivery
November 06, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Bioengineering
- 400 Bioengineering
Authors
- Mandelbaum, Henriette, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Reisinger, Chiara, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Denis, Louise, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, Île-de-France, France
- Wachter, Felix, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Hanslik, Gregor, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Jobst-Schwan, Tilman, Universitatsklinikum Erlangen Medizinische Klinik 4 Nephrologie und Hypertensiologie, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Hilger, Alina, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Jüngert, Jörg, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Müller-Deile, Janina, Universitatsklinikum Erlangen Medizinische Klinik 4 Nephrologie und Hypertensiologie, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Schiffer, Mario, Universitatsklinikum Erlangen Medizinische Klinik 4 Nephrologie und Hypertensiologie, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Reutter, Heiko M., University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Couture, Olivier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, Île-de-France, France
- Grieshaber-Bouyer, Ricardo, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Regensburger, Adrian, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
- Knieling, Ferdinand, University Hospital Erlangen - Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Erlangen, BY, Germany
Background
Vascular impairment is a major cause of kidney injury but invasive tissue biopsies are still often necessary. ULM enables non-invasive ultra high-dimensional monitoring of vascular dynamics up to the scale of individual glomeruli opening new avenues for the assessment of kidney disease.
Methods
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using intravenously applied microbubbles (MBs) and a clinical scanner was performed in adult kidney transplants and native neonatal kidneys. Post-processing including motion correction was done using a computational framework. ULM findings were correlated with routine biopsy results and clinical data.
Results
Localizing and tracking of individual MBs enabled ultra-high dimensional reconstruction of kidney vasculature up to capillary scale. Geometrical filtering of slow MB tracks enabled non-invasive visualization and quantification of glomeruli in the renal cortex. In patients with pathological biopsy, reduced counts of glomeruli were detected.
Conclusion
We present the successful translation of ULM to kidneys from both adult and neonatal patients including motion correction algorithms showing clinical feasibility even in vulnerable patient cohorts. ULM-based assessment of kidney disease may offer an alternative to invasive kidney biopsies.
Figure 1 ULM in kidney allografts
Figure 2 ULM in neonatal kidneys