Initial Investigation Of Magnetic Resonance Perfusion-weighted Imaging In Leukoariosis

ObjectiveTo investigate whether Periusion-Weighed imaging (PWI) can be used to evaluate blood perfusion of patients with Leukoariosis(LA) and its relationship to clinical features, and to evaluate and monitor the therapy effeet of LA.Materials and Methods44patients with LA were recruited in the study. All the subjects were examined with both conventional and dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion MR imaging,13of them repeated the examinations after the treatment. The shapes and sizes of the biggest lesions in each patient were confirmed by conventional MR imaging, then the values of relative Cerebral Blood Volume (rCBV). relative Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF) and relative mean transit time (rMTT) in each lesion were calculated respectively. Further, a Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to show whether these values were correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores or Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores. Paired-samples t-test was performed to analysis the changes of PWI parameters. ADL and MMSE Scores after treatment. Results44lesions of all the subjects showed significant decreases in rCBV(0.797±0.160) and rCBF (0.779±0.164) but increase in rMTT(1.029±0.073). There were positive correlations between rCBV and MMSE(r=0.524, P=0.000), between rCBV and ADL(r=0.621, P=0.000), between rCBF and MMSE(r=0.555, P=0.000), and between rCBF and ADL(r=0.690, P=0.000), and negative correlations between rMTT and MMSE(r=-0.307, P=0.043), and between rMTT and ADL(r=-0.434, P=0.003). The blood perfusion was enhanced in patients who repeated the examinations after the treatment, the ADL score increased but the MMSE score unchanged distinctly.ConclusionsPerfusion MR imaging can assess hemodynamic alterations in LA, which could reflect the clinical symptoms. Moreover, the changes of blood perfusions can be used to evaluate and monitor the therapy effect of LA.