Open AccessAssessment of cerebral perfusion and edema in preeclampsia with intravoxel incoherent motion MRI
Author(s) -
Nelander Maria,
Hannsberger Daniel,
SundströmPoromaa Inger,
Bergman Lina,
Weis Jan,
Åkerud Helena,
Wikström Johan,
Wikström AnnaKarin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/aogs.13383
Subject(s) - medicine , preeclampsia , cerebral blood flow , intravoxel incoherent motion , perfusion , eclampsia , edema , caudate nucleus , magnetic resonance imaging , pregnancy , cerebral edema , cerebral perfusion pressure , perfusion scanning , cardiology , anesthesia , radiology , diffusion mri , genetics , biology
Cerebral complications are the main reasons for morbidity and mortality in preeclampsia and eclampsia. As yet, we do not know whether the pathophysiology entails hypo‐ or hyperperfusion of the brain, or how and when edema emerges, due to the difficulty of examining the cerebral circulation. Material and methods We have used a non‐invasive diffusion weighted‐magnetic resonance imaging technique, intravoxel incoherent motion, to study cerebral perfusion on the capillary level and cerebral edema in women with preeclampsia (n = 30), normal pregnancy (n = 32), and non‐pregnant women (n = 16). Estimates of cerebral blood volume, blood flow, and edema were measured in 5 different regions. These points were chosen to represent blood supply areas of both the carotid and vertebrobasilar arteries, and to include both white and gray matter. Results Except for the caudate nucleus, we did not detect any differences in cerebral perfusion measures on a group level. In the caudate nucleus, we found lower cerebral blood volume and lower blood flow in preeclampsia than in either normal pregnancy ( P = .01 and P = .03, respectively) or non‐pregnant women (both P = .02). No differences in edema were detected between study groups. Conclusion The cerebral perfusion measures were comparable between the study groups, except for a portion of the basal ganglia where hypoperfusion was detected in preeclampsia but not in normal pregnancy or non‐pregnant women.