Cerebrovascular Reservoir and Arterial Transit Time Changes Assessed by Acetazolamide-Challenged Multi-Phase Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion MRI in Chronic Cerebrovascular Steno-Occlusive Disease.

Abstract

PurposeTo explore cerebrovascular reservoir (CVR) and arterial transit time (ATT) changes using acetazolamide-challenged multi-phase arterial spin labeling (MP-ASL) perfusion-weighted MRI in chronic cerebrovascular steno-occlusive disease.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study enrolled patients with chronic steno-occlusion who underwent acetazolamide-challenged MP-ASL between June 2019 and October 2020. Cerebral blood flow, CVR, basal ATT, and ATT changes associated with severe stenosis, total occlusion, and chronic infarction lesions were compared.ResultsThere were 32 patients (5 with bilateral steno-occlusion) in our study sample. The CVR was significantly reduced during total occlusion compared with severe stenosis (26.2% ± 28.8% vs. 41.4% ± 34.1%, respectively, p = 0.004). The ATT changes were not significantly different (p = 0.717). The CVR was marginally lower in patients with chronic infarction (29.6% ± 39.1% vs. 38.9% ± 28.7%, respectively, p = 0.076). However, the ATT was less shortened in patients with chronic infarction (−54 ± 135 vs. −117 ± 128 ms, respectively, p = 0.013).ConclusionAcetazolamide-challenged MP-ASL provides an MRI-based CVR evaluation tool for chronic steno-occlusive disease.