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Pallidal hyperintensity on magnetic resonance imaging in cirrhotic patients: Clinical correlations
Author(s) -
Kulisevsky Jaime,
Pujol Jesús,
Balanzó Joaquín,
Junqué Carme,
Deus Joan,
Capdevilla Antoni,
Villanueva Cándido
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840160613
Subject(s) - magnetic resonance imaging , hyperintensity , medicine , nuclear magnetic resonance , radiology , physics
Patients with cirrhosis show increased signal intensity in the globus pallidus on T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. This abnormal appearance of the basal ganglia has been related to the severity of liver failure and to the presence of portalsystemic shunting, although its cause and clinical significance remain unknown. We prospectively assessed the metabolic, neurological and neuropsychological statuses of 30 stable cirrhotic patients and correlated these clinical variables with computed measurements of globus pallidus signals. Some metabolic variables denoting disease severity appeared to be significantly related to image changes, although the strongest association was found with plasma ammonia levels. After adjustment for ammonia level, on multiple regression analysis, the other variables were not significant. Furthermore, pallidal changes were associated with specific neurological symptoms and neurological functions, symptoms and functions that also had a significant correlation with ammonia levels. Our findings suggest that globus pallidus signal abnormality could arise as a marker of brain impairment related to hyperammonemia.