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Intracranial pulse wave velocity using 4D flow MRI: method comparison and covariate analysis
Sergio Dempsey1, Soroush Safaei1, Samantha J Holdsworth2,3
1Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, 70 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.
Interface Focus
|April 7, 2025
Summary
Intracranial pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurement using 4D flow MRI shows that cross-correlation and waveform optimization methods agree well. This study found higher PWV in internal carotids than basilar arteries and no age dependency in healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Intracranial pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a promising biomarker for cerebrovascular disease assessment.
- Current methods for intracranial PWV measurement lack standardized comparison and consensus.
- 4D flow MRI offers a non-invasive approach to evaluate intracranial hemodynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare three common intracranial PWV measurement techniques: cross-correlation, waveform optimization, and time-to-upstroke.
- To analyze PWV in intracranial vasculature (internal carotids and basilar arteries) in healthy individuals.
- To investigate the relationship between intracranial PWV and age.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 4D flow MRI to measure PWV in the intracranial arteries of 21 healthy adults (age 48 ± 18 years).
- Compared cross-correlation, waveform optimization, and time-to-upstroke methods for PWV calculation.
- Employed an ensemble approach to analyze cohort PWV data, considering methodological variations.
Main Results:
- Cross-correlation and waveform optimization methods demonstrated near-perfect agreement for intracranial PWV.
- The time-to-upstroke method yielded significantly higher PWV values and more non-physiological results.
- Internal carotid arteries exhibited higher PWV (3.64 ± 1.47 m/s) compared to basilar arteries (2.53 ± 1.39 m/s).
- Intracranial PWV was found to be age-independent in the studied cohort.
Conclusions:
- Cross-correlation and waveform optimization are reliable methods for intracranial PWV assessment via 4D flow MRI.
- Higher PWV in internal carotids suggests regional hemodynamic differences within the intracranial circulation.
- The observed age independence of intracranial PWV may represent a protective physiological mechanism against microvascular strain.
- Future research should address potential biases in previous intracranial PWV studies, possibly related to extracranial measurements.
