Comparability of MRI perfusion neuroimaging biomarkers with neuropsychological testing data in chronic cerebral ischemia in Chernobyl disaster liquidators

Summary. One of the promising neuroimaging methods for studying the brain in cerebrovascular disease is MRI perfusion of the brain. It is of interest to compare the revealed data with the results of specialized neuropsychological testing in individuals with chronic cerebral ischemia, including patients from the risk group – exposed to radiation.

Objective of the study: 165 patients aged 55 to 87 years diagnosed with chronic cerebrovascular disease were examined. The main group included 97 liquidators of the Chernobyl accident (LPA), the control group included 68 patients who were not exposed to radiation. Perfusion changes (CBV and CBF) in the gray and white matter of the right frontal lobe (ROI-1, ROI-2) and similarly in the left hemisphere (ROI-4, ROI-5) were assessed. The obtained perfusion data were then compared with the results of neuropsychological testing. Results: Сomparing the MRI perfusion parameters (CBV in ml/100 g and CBF in ml/100 g/min), a statistically significant decrease in the specified parameters was found in ROI-1 (CBV, p = 0.010; CBF, p = 0.011) and ROI-4 (CBV, p = 0.009; CBF, p = 0.001), mainly in the main group. Analysis of the neuropsychological testing results revealed a statistically significant (p = 0.005) decrease in MMSE and MoCA in the main group compared to the control group. In addition, the HADS results demonstrated a significant increase in values ​​in the main group, both in the anxiety section (p = 0.024) and in the depression section (p = 0.027) in relation to the control group. Correlation analysis between CBV and CBF in ROI-1, ROI-2, ROI-3, ROI-4 and ROI-5 in accordance with the anatomical landmarks of the brain at the level of the lateral ventricles according to MRI perfusion data and the results of neuropsychological testing revealed statistically significant direct correlations between CBF/CBV in ROI-1/ROI-4 and MMSE, MoCA and HADS.

Conclusions. MRI perfusion revealed more pronounced disturbances in perfusion parameters in LPA compared to the control group, and correlation analysis between CBV/CBF and the results of neuropsychological testing established a direct relationship between the clinical manifestations of the psychopathological syndrome, expressed in a decrease in cognitive functions with the severity of neurovascular deficit in patients of the main group with systemic endothelial dysfunction due to man-made irradiation of the whole body in the late period. The obtained data demonstrate and confirm the effectiveness of contrast T2*-perfusion and can be used as neuroimaging biomarkers in individuals with cerebrovascular disease.

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