Quantification of Perfusion and Permeability in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Our study demonstrates the feasibility of 3D T1-weighted DCE-MRI for the quantitative assessment of CBF, CBV, and PS in NAWM as well as in multiple MS lesions scattered throughout the brain, even without previous knowledge of their location. Quantification on the region level produced reasonable values both in lesions and in NAWM, but parameter maps would benefit from an increase in contrast-to-noise ratio. The increased values of CBF, CBV, and PS in CE lesions may reflect inflammatory activity, the heterogeneity of parameter estimates suggests a potential for lesion characterization. NAWM appears hypoperfused, this is in accordance with previous studies, but requires validation with a control group.