In vivo MRI of brain inflammation in human ischaemic stroke
Inflammation contributes to brain damage caused by ischaemic stroke. Macrophages, as the prevailing inflammatory cell population in stroke lesions, can be visualized using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) as a cell‐specific contrast agent for MRI. In this single‐centre open‐labelled c...
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Published in | Brain (London, England : 1878) Vol. 127; no. 7; pp. 1670 - 1677 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford
Oxford University Press
01.07.2004
Oxford Publishing Limited (England) |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Inflammation contributes to brain damage caused by ischaemic stroke. Macrophages, as the prevailing inflammatory cell population in stroke lesions, can be visualized using ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) as a cell‐specific contrast agent for MRI. In this single‐centre open‐labelled clinical phase II study we tested the potential of USPIO‐enhanced MRI for macrophage imaging in human ischaemic stroke lesions. In a series of 10 consecutive patients, USPIO contrast agent was infused at the end of the first week after symptom onset. Two follow‐up MRI scans were performed 24–36 h and 48–72 h after infusion. Two distinct components of USPIO‐related signal changes were discernible, one associated with blood vessels and one representing parenchymal enhancement. Vessel‐associated changes appeared as signal loss on T2/T2*‐weighted images and decreased from the first to second scan after USPIO infusion, most likely reflecting a transient blood pool effect of the contrast agent. Conversely, parenchymal enhancement was mainly evident on T1‐weighted images, increased over time, and matched with the expected distribution of macrophages. Importantly, USPIO‐induced signal alterations throughout differed from signatures of conventional gadolinium‐enhanced MRI, thus being independent from breakdown of the blood–brain barrier. We suggest that increasing USPIO‐enhancement on T1‐weighted images indicates brain infiltration by USPIO‐laden macrophages. Thus, USPIO‐enhanced MRI may provide an in vivo surrogate marker of cellular inflammation in stroke and other CNS pathologies. |
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Bibliography: | istex:23A18DF28DF7ABE13C6B4E3A07583A7A05390D8C local:awh191 ark:/67375/HXZ-V0F0P9XG-B Correspondence to: Dr Sebastian Jander, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Heinrich‐Heine‐University, Moorenstrasse 5, D‐40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. E‐mail: jander@uni‐duesseldorf.de ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-2 ObjectType-Feature-1 |
ISSN: | 0006-8950 1460-2156 |
DOI: | 10.1093/brain/awh191 |