Keywords: Arterial Spin Labelling, COVID-19
Motivation: A proportion of patients admitted to hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection have cognitive deficits that persist for several months. However, the mechanisms behind persistent neurological symptoms are unclear. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is a possible underlying cause.
Goal(s): We aimed to investigate BBB permeability in participants previously admitted to hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection (post-acute COVID-19).
Approach: We used a diffusion-prepared pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling (DP-pCASL) to quantify water exchange rate in post-acute COVID-19 participants and controls.
Results: Post-acute COVID-19 participants demonstrated lower whole brain water exchange rates across the BBB than controls, but no differences in arterial transit time or cerebral blood flow.
Impact: This is the first study to report reduced water exchange across the blood brain barrier in the context of post-acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. This may implicate glymphatic system dysfunction as a mechanism for neurological symptoms associated with long COVID-19.
How to access this content:
For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.
After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.
After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.
Keywords