Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and CT provide comparable measurement of blood-brain barrier permeability in a rodent stroke model

Magn Reson Imaging. 2015 Oct;33(8):1007-12. doi: 10.1016/j.mri.2015.06.021. Epub 2015 Jun 25.

Abstract

In the current management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), clinical criteria are used to estimate the risk of hemorrhagic transformation (HT), which is a devastating early complication. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) and computed tomography (DCE-CT) may serve as physiologically-based decision making tools to more reliably assess the risk of HT. Before these tools can be properly validated, the comparability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability measurements they generate should be assessed. Sixteen rats were subjected to a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion before successively undergoing DCE-CT and DCE-MRI at 24-hours. BBB permeability (K(trans)) values were generated from both modalities. A correlation of R=0.677 was found (p<0.01) and the resulting relationship was [DCE-CT=(0.610*DCE-MRI)+4.140]. A variance components analysis found the intra-rat coefficient of variation to be 0.384 and 0.258 for K(trans) values from DCE-MRI and DCE-CT respectively. Permeability measures from DCE-CT were 22% higher than those from DCE-MRI. The results of this study demonstrate for the first time comparability between DCE-CT and DCE-MRI in the assessment of AIS. These results may provide a foundation for future clinical trials making combined use of these modalities.

Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Animal model; Blood–brain barrier permeability; CT; Dynamic contrast-enhanced; MRI.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / diagnostic imaging
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiopathology*
  • Capillary Permeability
  • Cerebral Angiography / methods*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation*
  • Contrast Media / pharmacokinetics
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / methods*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke / pathology
  • Stroke / physiopathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*

Substances

  • Contrast Media