Assessment of vasogenic edema in eclampsia using diffusion imaging.
We qualitatively assessed the regional distribution of vasogenic edema in a case of postpartum eclampsia. Although diffusion-weighted imaging showed no abnormalities, bilateral high signal was seen on T2-weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. ADC of 1.45 +/- 0.10 mm2/s x 10(-3) for the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) territory and 1.22 +/- 0.12 mm2/s x 10(-3) for the watershed areas were significantly higher than those in the territories of the anterior (0.85 +/- 0.07 mm2/s x 10(-3) and middle cerebral (0.79 +/- 0.06 mm2/s x 10(-3)) arteries (P < 0.05). The predilection of ADC changes within the PCA territory and in a previously undescribed watershed distribution supports the hypothesis that vasogenic edema in eclampsia is due to hypertension-induced failure of vascular autoregulation.
Engelter
S T
ST
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center 3808, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Provenzale
J M
JM
Petrella
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004461:Eclampsia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D020769:Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy