Cerebral blood flow measured with MRI arterial spin labeling (asl) and neuroimaging signs of age-related small vessel disease

Sergeeva A.N., Dobryinina L.A., Gadgieva Z.Sh., Zabitova M.R., Seliverstova E.V., Krotenkova M.V.

To assess the relationship of total and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in major areas corresponding to executive function networks (EFN) with neuroimaging signs of small vessel disease (SVD).

Materials and methods. Thirty nine patients (median age 57 [55.5; 59.5]) at various stages of cognitive impairment(CI) and neuroimaging signs of SVD, and 15 healthy subjects (median age 54[50; 57]) underwent MRI protocol that included structural and perfusion sequences (T2, T1mpr, SWI, FLAIR, DWI, ASL; Siemens Verio 3.0T scanner). Neuroimaging signs of SVD were evaluated according to STRIVE criteria (white matter hyperintensity [WMH], microbleeds, lacunes, perivascular spaces, gray matter atrophy). Perfusion assessment included calculation of total CBF and regional CBF in cingular, parietal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC). Data were processed using ASLtbx, SPM12, ITK-SNAP, IBM SPSS Statistics 23 software.

Results. The results showed unchanged global CBF and regional hyperperfusion in cingular, parietal and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in SVD patients vs control group, significant correlations between increasing of СBF within the regions of interest and the severity of all neuroimaging signs (WMH, microbleeds, lacunes and gray matter atrophy).

Pattern of normal total perfusion and regional hyperperfusion at rest in EFN areas indicates the ineffectiveness of increased cortical blood flow. This is due to the high pulsating properties of the brachiocephalic arteries, creating a shunting blood flow through the arterio-venular pathways and leading to ineffective perfusion.

Conclusion. These data emphasize the feasibility of clarifying the relationship regional hyperperfusion in areas, providing EFN, with severity of CI in SVD patients.

Research Center of

Neurology.

Moscow, Russia

 

Keywords: ASL, CBF, brain perfusion, cerebral blood flow, small vessel disease, white matter hyperintensity, microhaemorrhages, lacunes, сerebral microangiopathy.


Corresponding author:  Sergeeva Anastasia, e-mail: Этот e-mail адрес защищен от спам-ботов, для его просмотра у Вас должен быть включен Javascript .

 

For citation: Sergeeva A.N., Dobryinina L.A., Gadgieva Z.Sh., Zabitova M.R., Seliverstova E.V., Krotenkova M.V. Cerebral blood flow measured with MRI arterial spin labeling (asl) and neuroimaging signs of age-related small vessel disease. REJR 2019; 9(4):8-17. DOI:10.21569/2222-7415-2019-9-4-8-17.

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Received:        10.08.19                 Accepted:       22.10.19