DCE-MRI reveals spatial pattern in heterogeneous blood-brain barrier leakage within white matter in cerebral small vessel disease.

ABSTRACT: Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is associated with vascular cognitive impairment, dementia, and stroke. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is central to its pathophysiology and is involved in the formation of tissue lesions. The spatial heterogeneity of BBB leakage remains largely unclear. This cross-sectional study assessed BBB leakage rate (K_i), fractional volume of leaking tissue (v_l), and blood plasma volume (v_p) in various tissue regions, including gray matter (GM), normal appearing white matter (NAWM), and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) of 59 patients with cSVD and 32 controls using a high spatial resolution dynamic-contrast enhanced MRI protocol. Using regionally averaged measures, patients with cSVD had higher v_l (p = 0.020)

SUBMITTER: Verstappen D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12321814 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature