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Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging shows widespread blood-brain barrier disruption in mild traumatic brain injury patients with post-concussion syndrome

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Abstract

Objectives

To explore the utility of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging for quantitative analysis of blood-brain barrier disruption in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients with post-concussion syndrome (PCS).

Methods

Forty-four consecutive patients with PCS after mTBI and 32 controls were included in this retrospective study. Ktrans and ve from DCE MR imaging were analyzed at contrast-enhancing lesions, T2 hyperintense white matter (WM) lesions, normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), and predilection sites for diffuse axonal injury (LocationDAI). The Mann-Whitney U-test was performed to compare the parameters between mTBI patients and controls and the parameters were correlated with neuropsychological tests using Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman rank correlation.

Results

The median ve of the T2 hyperintense WM lesions in mTBI patients (n=21) was higher than that of NAWM in controls (p=.027). Both median Ktrans and ve at NAWM were also significantly higher in mTBI patients than in controls (p=.023 and p=.029, respectively). In addition, mTBI patients had higher Ktrans and ve at LocationDAI than controls (p=.008 and p=.015, respectively). VLT (delayed recall) scores were significantly correlated with ve values at T2 hyperintense WM lesions (p=−0.767, p=.044). The median ve at LocationDAI was significantly higher in patients with atypical performance in the digit span test (forward) than in those with average or good performance (p=.043).

Conclusions

mTBI patients with PCS had higher Ktrans and ve values than controls not only at T2 hyperintense WM lesions but also at NAWM and LocationDAI. BBB disruption may be implicated in development of PCS in mTBI patients.

Key Points

• mTBI patients with PCS had higher permeability than controls at T2 hyperintense WM lesions on DCE MR imaging.

• mTBI patients with PCS had higher permeability than controls also at NAWM and predilection sites for DAI.

• BBB disruption may be implicated in the development of PCS in mTBI patients.

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Abbreviations

3D:

Three-dimensional

BBB:

Blood-brain barrier

CNS:

Central nervous system

CNT:

Computerized neurocognitive function tests

CPT:

Continuous performance test

DAI:

Diffuse axonal injury

DCE:

Dynamic contrast-enhanced

DTI:

Diffusion tensor imaging

DWI:

Diffusion-weighted imaging

FLAIR:

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery

FSPGR:

Fast spoiled gradient echo

IQR:

Interquartile range

mTBI:

Mild TBI

NAWM:

Normal-appearing white matter

PCS:

Post-concussion syndrome

ROC:

Receiver operating characteristics

RPQ:

Rivermead post-concussion symptoms questionnaire

SWI:

Susceptibility-weighted imaging

VLT:

Verbal learning test

WM:

White matter

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Funding

This study was supported by a grant from Bayer Healthcare, the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare of South Korea (HI16C1111), and by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (2016M3C7A1914002), by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (2017R1A2B2006526) and by the Ministry of Education (2017R1D1A1B04034838), by Creative-Pioneering Researchers Program through Seoul National University (SNU), and by Project Code (IBS-R006-D1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28, Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea

    Roh-Eul Yoo, Seung Hong Choi, Koung Mi Kang, Tae Jin Yun, Ji-hoon Kim & Chul-Ho Sohn

  2. Center for Nanoparticle Research, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Seung Hong Choi

  3. School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Seung Hong Choi

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28, Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea

    Byung-Mo Oh

  5. Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28, Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Korea

    Sang Do Shin

  6. Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Eun Jung Lee

  7. Department of Radiology, Seran General Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Dong Jae Shin

  8. Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea

    Sang Won Jo

Authors
  1. Roh-Eul Yoo
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  8. Koung Mi Kang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seung Hong Choi.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Seung Hong Choi.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.

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Written informed consent was waived by the Institutional Review Board.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.

Methodology

• retrospective

• case-control study / cross sectional study / observational

• performed at one institution

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Yoo, RE., Choi, S.H., Oh, BM. et al. Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging shows widespread blood-brain barrier disruption in mild traumatic brain injury patients with post-concussion syndrome. Eur Radiol 29, 1308–1317 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5656-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5656-z

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