Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is at the forefront of medical innovation, utilizing artificial intelligence technology to predict kidney failure at an unprecedented speed.
The trust has integrated AI software into its 3D lab, which has shown promising results in predicting kidney failure by automating kidney volume measurements. Developed by Principal Scientist Jonathan Taylor and tested on hundreds of MRI scans, the AI tool, known as the KFRE (The Kidney Failure Risk Equation), has the potential to revolutionize kidney clinics worldwide.
The KFRE tool, supported by clinical scientists and MRI radiographers at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, delivers rapid and precise analysis of total kidney volume. This measurement is crucial in assessing the future kidney lifespan in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
Traditional methods of monitoring kidney volume would involve manual tracing on MRI scans, a time-consuming process. However, with the AI tool in place, the same task can be completed in less than a minute, saving valuable staff time.
Professor Albert Ong, consultant nephrologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, expressed confidence in the AI tool’s performance, stating that it operates six times faster than human analysts while maintaining accuracy. The tool’s ability to quickly and accurately measure kidney volume will be invaluable for clinics worldwide, especially those with limited specialist expertise.
