Measuring permeability in acute ischemic stroke

Andrea Kassner; Daniel M Mandell; David J Mikulis

doi:10.1016/j.nic.2011.01.004

Measuring permeability in acute ischemic stroke

Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2011 May;21(2):315-25, x-xi. doi: 10.1016/j.nic.2011.01.004. Epub 2011 Mar 16.

Authors

Andrea Kassner¹, Daniel M Mandell, David J Mikulis

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, 150 College Street, Room 125, Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada. andrea.kassner@utoronto.ca

PMID: 21640302
DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2011.01.004

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a functional concept to describe unique features of intracranial blood vessels that prevent many substances in the systemic circulation from entering the brain. In the setting of acute ischemic stroke, loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity is believed to be a precursor to hemorrhagic transformation. CT and MR imaging may evaluate BBB integrity by detecting leakage of intravenously administered contrast media into the extravascular space. In its simplest form, BBB integrity is assessed qualitatively, by determining the presence or absence of contrast enhancement on structural images of the brain. When dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI or CT is combined with a suitable pharmacokinetic model, one can quantify and spatially map BBB integrity throughout the brain.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Capillary Permeability*
Cerebral Angiography / methods*
Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnosis*
Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology
Cerebral Hemorrhage / physiopathology*
Humans
Ischemic Attack, Transient / complications
Ischemic Attack, Transient / diagnosis*
Ischemic Attack, Transient / physiopathology*
Perfusion Imaging / methods*

Grants and funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada