Dana S. Poole1, Johannes R. Sikkema1, Julien Milles1, Matthias J.P. van Osch1, Arn M.J.M. van den Maagdenberg2, 3, Louise van der Weerd1, 4
1Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Zuid Holland, Netherlands; 2Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre; 3Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre; 4Anatomy and Embriology, Leiden University Medical Centre
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the osmolarity and dose of the contrast agent (CA) on the estimation of the BBB damage, to identify optimal conditions for detecting low/uncertain BBB disruption and to provide an improved protocol therefor. Two different gadolinium-based contrast agents have been employed for this purpose gadoliniumtetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid (Dotarem), and gadoteridol (ProHance). A high CA dose is required to ensure the visualization and quantification of areas characterized by mild BBB disruption, but a high osmolarity of the contrast agent can aggravate BBB damage. Our optimized protocol represents a combination of maximum dosage and iso-osmolarity of CA.