title: 3D GRASE arterial spin labelling reveals an inverse correlation of cortical perfusion with the white matter lesion volume in MS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We hypothesized that in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, reduced cortical perfusion is associated with chronic white matter injury.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of different clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics on cortical perfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was assessed by applying a pulsed arterial spin labelling (ASL) technique combined with single-shot 3D-GRASE (gradient-spin echo) in a cohort of 165 MS patients with a relapsing-remitting (n=123) or secondary progressive disease course (n=42). Mean age was 45.4 years (20-68 years), mean disease duration was 14.2 years (1-48 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean cortical CBF was 45.6 ml/100g per min (SD: 7.8 ml/100g per min). Stepwise multiple linear regression models were calculated to investigate the relationship between different factor sets and mean CBF. The model with the highest adjusted coefficient of determination included T2 lesion load, age, gender and disease duration as significant factors. Post-hoc Spearman rank correlation revealed significant correlation of adjusted CBF with T2 lesion load (ρ=-0.35, p=1*10(-6)), with age (ρ=-0.34, p=4*10(-6)), and with disease duration (ρ=0.16, p=0.03), while Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) did not reach significance in either model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the amount of white matter lesions indicates a reduced metabolic demand and reduced perfusion at a cortical level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Achtnichts
authors.forename: Jochen G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naegelin
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gregori
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weier
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thöni
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mueller-Lenke
authors.forename: Ernst-Wilhelm
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Radue
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappos
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gass
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D055420:Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013113:Spin Labels; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels