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Steal physiology is spatially associated with cortical thinning
Jorn Fierstra1, Julien Poublanc, Jay Shou Han
1University Health Network, Toronto Western Hospital, Department of Medical Imaging, 399 Bathurst St, Toronto, M5T 2S8 ON, Canada.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|February 27, 2010
Summary
Severe impairment in cerebral autoregulation, linked to steal physiology, results in an 8% thinner cortex in affected hemispheres. This finding establishes a connection between reduced cerebrovascular reserve and cortical thinning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cerebrovascular Physiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- The impact of impaired cerebral autoregulatory vascular reactivity on cortical integrity remains unclear.
- This study investigates the relationship between autoregulatory flow control impairment (steal phenomenon) and cortical thickness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the link between severe autoregulatory flow control impairment and cortical thickness.
- To assess the effect of steal physiology on cortical integrity.
Main Methods:
- Reviewed 250 BOLD MRI CVR studies to identify patients with severe unilateral exhausted cerebrovascular reserve and steal physiology.
- Created reconstructed cortical surface maps using Freesurfer software for 17 identified patients.
- Compared cortical thickness in the affected hemisphere (steal physiology) with the healthy hemisphere.
Main Results:
- The hemisphere exhibiting steal physiology was 8% thinner (2.23+/-0.28 mm) compared to the healthy hemisphere (2.42+/-0.23 mm).
- A statistically significant difference in cortical thickness was observed (p=0.0005).
Conclusions:
- A spatial correlation exists between impaired autoregulatory capacity (steal physiology) and cortical thinning.
- Findings suggest that compromised cerebrovascular reserve impacts cortical structure.
