Christian Langkammer1,2, Nikolaus Krebs2,
Walter Goessler3, Eva Scheurer2, Kathrin Yen2,
Franz Fazekas1, Stefan Ropele1
1Department of Neurology, Medical
University of Graz, Graz, Austria; 2Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for
Clinical-Forensic Imaging, Graz, Austria; 3Institute of Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
Iron
deposition in human brain tissue is commonly assessed by mapping R2 or R2*
relaxation rates. The goal of our study was to validate if transverse
relaxation rates can be used as sensitive and linear measures for iron
concentration. R2 and R2* mapping was done in human post-mortem brains in
situ. After brain extraction and fixation iron concentrations were determined
in selected grey and white matter regions using inductively coupled plasma
mass spectrometry. We found that both, R2 and R2* are strongly correlated
with iron concentration and therefore can be used as a surrogate marker for
iron deposition.
Keywords