Application of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier integrity

Inge C M Verheggen*, Whitney M Freeze, Joost J A de Jong, Jacobus F A Jansen, Alida A Postma, Martin P J van Boxtel, Frans R J Verhey, Walter H Backes

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

VERHEGGEN, I.C.M., W. Freeze, J. de Jong, J. Jansen, A. Postma, M. van Boxtel, F. Verhey and W. Backes. The application of contrast-enhanced MRI in the assessment of blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier integrity. Choroid plexus epithelial cells form a barrier that enables active, bidirectional exchange between the blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), known as the blood-CSF barrier (BCSFB). Through its involvement in CSF composition, the BCSFB maintains homeostasis in the central nervous system. While the relation between blood-brain barrier disruption, aging and neurodegeneration is extensively studied using contrast-enhanced MRI, applying this technique to investigate BCSFB disruption in age-related neurodegeneration has received little attention. This review provides an overview of the current status of contrast-enhanced MRI to assess BCSFB permeability. Post-contrast ventricular gadolinium enhancement has been used to indicate BCSFB permeability. Moreover, new techniques highly sensitive to low gadolinium concentrations in the CSF, for instance heavily T2-weighted imaging with cerebrospinal fluid suppression, seem promising. Also, attempts are made at using other contrast agents, such as manganese ions or very small superparamagnetic iron oxide particles, that seem to be cleared from the brain at the choroid plexus. Advancing and applying new developments such as these could progress the assessment of BCSFB integrity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)171-183
Number of pages13
JournalNeuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Volume127
Early online date27 Apr 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021

Keywords

  • Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier
  • Choroid plexus
  • MRI
  • Contrast-enhanced
  • Aging
  • INDEPENDENT COMPONENT ANALYSIS
  • CHOROID-PLEXUS
  • BRAIN-BARRIER
  • ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE
  • MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS
  • GADOLINIUM CHELATE
  • BALANCED VIEW
  • HIGH SIGNAL
  • MR
  • CSF

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