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Published on: January 4, 2013
Hematocrit and Serum Hemoglobin Do Not Influence Values in Computed Tomography Perfusion of Patients With Acute
Grzegorz Marek Karwacki1, Matthias Richard Benz, Anthony Joseph Tyndall
1From the *Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, and †Division of Abdominal and Oncologic Imaging, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel; ‡Medical Radiological Institute, Zurich, Switzerland; and §Klinik für Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Universitaetsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.
Objective:
There is a correlation between both serum hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) and attenuation values of vessels in noncontrast-enhanced computed tomography (NECT), which could influence calculated perfusion maps in CT perfusion.
Methods:
We retrospectively included 45 patients, who presented with acute new neurological symptoms and underwent NECT and CT perfusion (128-row multi detector scanner, coverage: 6.9 cm craniocaudally; 80 kV; 200 mAs; temporal resolution: 2 seconds using 40 mL Ultravist 370 at a flow rate of 5 mL/s) on admission and a follow-up MRI within 1 week of admission.
Results:
Hematocrit, HGB, and attenuation values did not differ between patients with stroke and controls. A statistically significant correlation was found between HCT and HGB and attenuation values in the internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery on NECT (P < 0.05). No statistically significant correlation was observed between HCT and HGB and perfusion maps.
Conclusions:
Hematocrit and HGB do not influence calculated perfusion maps. There is no need for HCT/HGB-adjusted cerebral blood volume thresholds in stroke patients.
