The correlation between quantitative T2' and regional cerebral blood flow after acute brain ischemia in early reperfusion as demonstrated in a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion model of the rat.
BACKGROUND
qT2'-maps are calculated by subtracting T2- from T2*-relaxation rates. They are oxygen-sensitive and depict oxygen extraction. In several studies they have been used to describe the penumbra in patients with acute ischemic stroke. No correlation between rCBF and qT2' has been performed to date. In this study a correlation between rCBF and qT2' was performed in a temporary middle cerebral occlusion-reperfusion model of the rat.


METHODS
Temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion was performed on seven Sprague-Dawley rats. After 60 min of occlusion and 90 min of reperfusion MRI was performed including DWI, dynamic susceptibility contrast-weighted MR imaging (DSC-MRI) and qT2'. ROIs were placed inside the DWI lesion and transferred to rCBF- and qT2'-maps. rCBF and qT2' were compared to corresponding tissue in the contralateral hemisphere.


RESULTS
qT2' was lower in the infarcted areas when compared to the contralateral hemisphere. Correlation between rCBF and qT2' was r = 0.41, p = 0.14 (Pearson's correlation coefficient), when corrected for outliers it was r = 0.58, p = 0.04.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that there is a moderate correlation between rCBF and qT2'. qT2'-maps could be used to explore cerebral perfusion without the application of contrast agent or radiation.
Jensen
Ulf R
UR
Institute of Neuroradiology, University of Schleswig-Hostein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany. u.jensen@neurorad.uni-kiel.de
Liu
Jian-Ren
JR
Eschenfelder
Christoph
C
Meyne
Johannes
J
Zhao
Yi
Y
Deuschl
Günther
G
Jansen
Olav
O
Ulmer
Stephan
S
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D015424:Reperfusion