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How affected is oxygen metabolism in DWI lesions?

A combined acute stroke PET-MR study

From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, UK (J.V.G., E.A.W., P.S.J., D.J.D., F.I.A., C.J.P., J.-C.B.); Stroke Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK (E.A.W., D.J.D.); and Wolfson Brain Imaging Center (F.I.A., T.D.F., S.H., H.A.G., O.B., J.H.G., J.-C.B.), Department of Medicine (C.J.P.), and Department of Radiology (J.H.G.), University of Cambridge Clinical School, UK.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Jean-Claude Baron, Box 83, R3 Neurosciences, Cambridge University Department of Neurology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, UK; e-mail: jcb54{at}cam.ac.uk

Objective: To use back-to-back diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and PET to obtain quantitative measures of the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO₂) within DWI lesions, and to assess the perfusion-metabolism coupling status by measuring the cerebral blood flow and the oxygen extraction fraction within DWI lesions.

Methods: Six prospectively recruited acute carotid-territory stroke patients completed the imaging protocol, which was commenced 7 to 21 hours from onset and combined DWI derived from state-of-the-art diffusion tensor imaging sequencing using a 3-T magnet and fully quantitative ¹⁵O-PET. The PET variables were obtained in individual DWI lesions in each patient.

Results: Across patients, the CMRO₂ was reduced in the DWI lesion relative to mirror (mean reduction 39.5%; p = 0.028). Examining individual DWI lesions, however, revealed considerable variability in the extent of this CMRO₂ reduction. The flow–metabolism coupling pattern underlying the DWI lesion was also variable, including ongoing ischemia, mild oligemia, and partial or complete reperfusion.

Discussion: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions generally reflect substantial disruption of energy metabolism. However, the degree of metabolic disruption is variable, indicating DWI lesions may not always represent irreversibly damaged tissue. Finally, because DWI lesions can persist despite reperfusion, assessment of perfusion is necessary for interpretation of DWI changes in acute stroke.

This project is supported by Medical Research Council UK (grant number G0001219 to J.-C.B.). The Stroke Association supports E.A.W. J.V.G. was in receipt of a Raymond and Beverley Sackler Fellowship.

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received December 8, 2005. Accepted in final form May 4, 2006.

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