Functional MRI in Lupus Nephritis

Noninvasive Assessment Of Renal Activity And Damage Using Renal Functional MRI In Normal Healthy Volunteers And Subjects With Lupus Nephritis

The primary objectives of the study are as follows: To develop and optimize a renal functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol consisting of Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DW-MRI), Blood-Oxygen- Level-Dependent MRI (BOLD-MRI), Arterial Spin Labeling MRI (ASL-MRI), Phase Contrast MRI (PC-MRI), and T1rho-MRI; To compare renal functional MRI cross-sectional readouts between normal healthy volunteers (NHV) and lupus nephritis (LN) participants.

The secondary objectives of this study are as follows: Explore whether renal functional MRI techniques discriminate between renal inflammatory activity and damage in lupus nephritis (LN); To examine whether renal functional MRI measurements correlate with laboratory features of renal involvement and renal function in participants with lupus nephritis (LN).

Key Inclusion Criteria:

• Must have a documented diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) according to current American Academy of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. At least 4 American Academy of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria must be documented, 1 of which must be a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-Sm, or anti-double stranded DNA antibody.
• Must have a standard of care renal biopsy for lupus nephritis performed or scheduled within +/-7 days of Day 1.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

• Has a metal device affected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI )(e.g., any type of electronic, mechanical, or magnetic implant; cardiac pacemaker; aneurysm clips; implanted cardiac defibrillator), or has potential ferromagnetic foreign body (metal slivers, metal shavings, other metal objects) that would be a contraindication for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• History of renal transplant.
• Subjects with uncontrolled diabetes or other condition that may result in significant renal disease.

NOTE: Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.