Assessment of Post-COVID-19 Changes in Brain-Clinical and Imaging Evaluation Using MRI Vessel Wall Imaging and...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Post-COVID-19 neurological complications are a growing concern.
• Understanding the pathophysiology of these changes is crucial for management.
• Vessel wall imaging (VWI) offers detailed insights into vascular pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of vessel wall imaging (VWI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing post-COVID-19 brain alterations.
• To explore the potential of VWI in understanding COVID-19-related neurological lesion pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 43 participants: 23 post-COVID-19 patients and 20 controls.
• Utilized a 3T MRI scanner with a specific VWI protocol including T1-weighted SPACE FS black-blood, FLAIR, SWI, and MRA sequences.
• Compared imaging findings between the post-COVID-19 group and the control group.

Main Results:

• Identified several radiological changes in post-COVID-19 patients: white matter hyperintensities, deep medullary vein engorgement, perivascular enhancement, inflammatory vessel thickening on VWI, hippocampal size changes, cortical atrophy, and paranasal sinus mucosal thickening.
• Atherosclerotic vessel thickening on VWI and third ventricle width correlated with patient age.
• VWI demonstrated inflammatory vessel thickening in post-COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

• Vessel wall imaging (VWI) and MRI are valuable tools for assessing post-COVID-19 neurological lesions.
• These imaging modalities can help elucidate the vascular mechanisms underlying post-COVID-19 neurological sequelae.
• Findings may inform future management strategies for patients experiencing neurological issues after COVID-19.