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Evaluation of Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown in a Mouse Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: October 18, 2024
Blood-brain barrier disruption after cardiac surgery.
J G Merino1, L L Latour, A Tso
1Section on Stroke Diagnostics and Therapeutics, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. merinoj@ninds.nih.gov
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|August 25, 2012
Summary
Nearly half of cardiac surgery patients show blood-brain barrier disruption (HARM) and most have diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions, indicating potential brain injury after surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Central nervous system (CNS) complications are common after cardiac surgery.
- Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a potential cause of these postsurgical CNS issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of BBB disruption (HARM) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions detected by MRI after cardiac surgery.
Main Methods:
- MRI scans were performed on patients post-cardiac surgery.
- Gadolinium contrast was administered either 24 hours or 2-4 days after surgery.
- High-resolution DWI and FLAIR images were obtained and evaluated by stroke neurologists.
Main Results:
- 47% of patients exhibited HARM, with higher prevalence when gadolinium was given earlier (67% vs 30%).
- 74% of patients showed acute DWI lesions.
- HARM and DWI lesions were not always concurrent, suggesting distinct pathophysiological processes.
Conclusions:
- Nearly half of patients undergoing cardiac surgery demonstrate BBB disruption (HARM).
- Three-quarters of patients have acute DWI lesions post-surgery.
- BBB disruption is more frequent within 24 hours after surgery, suggesting early intervention potential.
