Regional oxygen extraction predicts border zone vulnerability to stroke in sickle cell disease

Association between admission serum hemoglobin concentration and the Black Hole Sign on cranial CT in ICH patients: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study explores the correlation between admission hemoglobin (HGB) concentration and the Black Hole Sign (BHS) presence on cranial CT scans in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients. Given the prognostic value of BHS in predicting early hematoma expansion and the potential role of HGB levels in influencing outcomes in cerebrovascular conditions, this study seeks to explore the correlation between these two factors. By analyzing clinical and imaging data from the past five years, we aim to provide new insights into the relationship between HGB concentrations and BHS in ICH patients.

METHODS

A single-center cross-sectional study gathered data from 330 ICH patients admitted to Chongqing Emergency Medical Center's neurosurgery department between June 2018 and November 2023. Logistic regression and subgroup analysis analyzed the association between admission HGB concentration and BHS occurrence. Curve fitting evaluated any linear relationship.

RESULTS

Among 330 patients (mean age: 58.4 ± 13.1 years, 72.1 % males), 40.0 % exhibited BHS on initial CT scans. Multifactorial adjustments revealed a negative correlation between admission HGB concentration and BHS. In subgroup analyses of age, sex, volume of cerebral hemorrhage, insular leaf damage, cerebral hernia, thalamic hemorrhage, and ventricular hemorrhage, No significant interactions were observed between subgroups. For every 1 g/L rise in HGB upon admission, there was a 3 % reduction in BHS likelihood (OR: 0.97, 95 % CI: 0.95-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower admission HGB concentrations in spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage patients correlated with increased BHS incidence on cranial CT scans. These findings underscore the importance of balanced HGB levels in ICH patients, potentially serving as a protective measure against stroke risk. Given the possible negative impact of low hemoglobin levels on coagulation and outcomes after a hemorrhage, we advise that middle-aged and elderly individuals with hypertension and other stroke risk factors receive regular medical evaluations. However, given the cross-sectional design of this study, the causal relationship between HGB levels and the BHS should be further validated through prospective cohort studies and large-scale, multicenter trials.

Quantification of regional CMRO2 in human brain using dynamic 17O-MRI at 3T

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the feasibility of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO2) measurements with MRI at 3 Tesla in different brain regions.

METHODS

CMRO2 represents a key indicator of the physiological state of brain tissue. Dynamic 17O-MRI with inhalation of isotopically enriched 17O gas has been used to quantify global CMRO2 in brain white (WM) and gray matter (GM). However, global CMRO2 can only reflect the overall oxygen metabolism of the brain and cannot provide enough information on local tissue oxygen metabolism. To investigate the feasibility of determination of regional CMRO2 at a clinical 3 T MRI system, CMRO2 values in frontal, parietal and occipital WM and GM were determined in 5 healthy volunteers and compared to evaluate the regional differences of oxygen metabolism in WM and GM. Additionally, regional CMRO2 values were determined in deep brain structures including thalamus, dorsal striatum, caudate nucleus and insula cortex and in the cerebella, and compared with literature values from 15O-PET studies.

RESULTS

In cortical GM the determined CMRO2 values were in good agreement with the literature, whereas values in WM were about 32-48% higher than literature values. Regional analysis revealed a significantly higher CMRO2 in the occipital GM compared to the frontal and parietal GM. By contrast, no significant difference of CMRO2 was observed across the WM. In addition, CMRO2 in deep brain structures was lower compared to literature values and in the cerebella a good hemispheric symmetry of the tissue oxygen metabolism was found.

CONCLUSION

Dynamic 17O-MRI enables direct, non-invasive determination of regional CMRO2 in brain structures in healthy volunteers at 3T.

Cerebral Oxygen Metabolic Stress in Children and Adults With Large Vessel Vasculopathy Due to Sickle Cell Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Large vessel vasculopathy (LVV), or moyamoya syndrome, increases the risk of stroke in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), yet effective treatments are lacking. In atherosclerotic carotid disease, previous studies demonstrated elevated oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) as a predictor of ipsilateral stroke. In a SCD cohort, we examined hemispheric hemodynamic and oxygen metabolic dysfunction as tissue-based biomarkers of cerebral ischemic risk in patients with LVV.

METHODS

Children and adults with SCD were recruited from a SCD clinic associated with a tertiary medical center and underwent prospective brain MRI and MR angiography. LVV was defined as ≥75% stenosis in a major anterior circulation artery, excluding occlusion or previous revascularization surgery. Baseline characteristics, cerebral blood flow (CBF), normalized OEF (nOEF), infarct volume, white matter microstructure, and brain volume were compared in hemispheres with vs without LVV. In a cross-sectional analysis, mixed-effects linear multivariable models examined the effect of LVV on: (1) CBF and nOEF, as tissue markers of hemodynamic and oxygen metabolic stress, respectively, and (2) endpoints of cerebral ischemic injury including infarct volume, white matter microstructure, and brain volume.

RESULTS

Of 155 patients (22 [12-31] years, 57% female), 33 (21%) had ≥25% stenosis, 22 (14%) had ≥50% stenosis, 14 (9%) had 75%-99% stenosis, and 5 (3%) had 100% occlusion. After excluding hemispheres with previous revascularization surgery, LVV was present in 16 hemispheres from 11 patients. Hemispheres with (N = 16) vs without (N = 283) LVV had lower CBF (25.2 vs 32.1 mL/100 g/min, p = 0.01) and higher nOEF (0.99 vs 0.95, p = 0.02). On multivariable analysis, CBF was nonsignificantly lower (β = -0.16, p = 0.07) while nOEF remained higher in hemispheres with LVV (β = 0.04, p = 0.03). Moreover, LVV was associated with greater hemispheric infarct volume, microstructural disruption, and atrophy.

DISCUSSION

Beyond greater infarct burden, LVV was associated with hemispheric atrophy and white matter microstructural injury. As an indicator of active hypoxia, elevated nOEF likely represents a compensatory response to flow-limiting stenosis in hemispheres with LVV. The study is limited by a small number of patients with severe stenosis. Future studies are needed to evaluate the potential of tissue-based CBF and nOEF in assessing stroke risk and guide timely treatment of vasculopathy in SCD.

Intracranial aneurysms in sickle cell disease are associated with hemodynamic stress and anemia

ABSTRACT

Although hemodynamic stress plays a key role in aneurysm formation outside of sickle cell disease (SCD), its role is understudied in patients with SCD. We hypothesized that tissue-based markers of hemodynamic stress are associated with aneurysm presence in a prospective SCD cohort. Children and adults with SCD, with and without aneurysms, underwent longitudinal brain magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to assess cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen extraction fraction (OEF). Baseline characteristics were recorded. In the subgroup of adults, stepwise mixed-effect logistic regression examined clinical variables, CBF, and OEF as predictors of aneurysm presence. Cumulative rates of new aneurysm formation were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Forty-three aneurysms were found in 27 of 155 patients (17%). Most aneurysms were ≤3 mm and in the intracranial internal carotid artery. On univariate analysis, older age (P = .07), lower hemoglobin (P = .002), higher CBF (P = .03), and higher OEF (P = .02) were associated with aneurysm presence. On multivariable analysis, age and CBF remained independently associated with aneurysm presence. Seventy-six patients (49% of enrollment) received follow-up MRAs (median, 3.5 years). No aneurysm grew or ruptured, however, 7 new aneurysms developed in 6 patients. The 3-year cumulative rate of aneurysm formation was 3.5%. In 155 patients with SCD, 17% had intracranial aneurysms. Three-year aneurysm formation rate was 3.5%, although limited by small longitudinal sample size and short follow-up duration. Aneurysm presence was associated with elevated CBF in adults, as a tissue-based marker of cerebral hemodynamic stress. Future studies may examine the predictive role of CBF in aneurysm development in SCD.

Quantifying dilated perivascular spaces in children with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD)-related neurological effects are particularly devastating. Dilated perivascular spaces (dPVS) are a well-described component of cerebral small vessel disease in older adults without SCD. However, the burden and association of dPVS with neurological complications in children with SCD have not been described. In this study, we used the international consensus criteria to quantify dPVS in the centrum semiovale and basal ganglia in T2-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRI) of children with SCD who were randomized as part of the Silent Cerebral Infarct Transfusion (SIT) trial. We examined the relationship between global and/or regional dPVS burden and presence or area of silent cerebral infarctions, hematological measures, demographic variables, and full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) scores. The study included 156 SIT trial participants who had pre-randomization and study exit MRI. Their median age was 9.6 (5-15) years, 39% were female, and 94 (60%) participants had a high dPVS burden. Participants randomized to the blood transfusion arm and who had a high dPVS burden at baseline had a moderate decline in dPVS score over 36 months compared to no change in the observation group. On multivariable logistic regression, intelligence quotient was not associated with dPVS burden. Children with SCD included in the SIT trial have a high burden of dPVS compared to children without SCD. However, dPVS do not appear to have the same pathophysiology of silent cerebral infarcts. Further study is needed to determine both their etiology and clinical relevance.

Comparison of cerebral oxygen extraction fraction using ASE and TRUST methods in patients with sickle cell disease and healthy controls

Abnormal oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), a putative biomarker of cerebral metabolic stress, may indicate compromised oxygen delivery and ischemic vulnerability in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Elevated OEF was observed at the tissue level across the brain using an asymmetric spin echo (ASE) MR method, while variable global OEFs were found from the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) using a T2-relaxation-under-spin-tagging (TRUST) MRI method with different calibration models. In this study, we aimed to compare the average ASE-OEF in the SSS drainage territory and TRUST-OEF in the SSS from the same SCD patients and healthy controls. 74 participants (SCD: N = 49; controls: N = 25) underwent brain MRI. TRUST-OEF was quantified using the Lu-bovine, Bush-HbA and Li-Bush-HbS models. ASE-OEF and TRUST-OEF were significantly associated in healthy controls after controlling for hematocrit using the Lu-bovine or the Bush-HbA model. However, no association was found between ASE-OEF and TRUST-OEF in patients with SCD using either the Bush-HbA or the Li-Bush-HbS model. Plausible explanations include a discordance between spatially volume-averaged oxygenation brain tissue and flow-weighted volume-averaged oxygenation in SSS or sub-optimal calibration in SCD. Further work is needed to refine and validate non-invasive MR OEF measurements in SCD.

Reversibility of Cognitive Deficits and Functional Connectivity With Transfusion in Children With Sickle Cell Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

People with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk of cognitive dysfunction independent of stroke. Diminished functional connectivity in select large-scale networks and white matter integrity reflect the neurologic consequences of SCD. Because chronic transfusion therapy is neuroprotective in preventing stroke and strengthening executive function abilities in people with SCD, we hypothesized that red blood cell (RBC) transfusion facilitates the acute reversal of disruptions in functional connectivity while white matter integrity remains unaffected.

METHODS

Children with SCD receiving chronic transfusion therapy underwent a brain MRI measuring white matter integrity with diffusion tensor imaging and resting-state functional connectivity within 3 days before and after transfusion of RBCs. Cognitive assessments with the NIH Toolbox were acquired after transfusion and then immediately before the following transfusion cycle.

RESULTS

Sixteen children with a median age of 12.5 years were included. Global assessments of functional connectivity using homotopy (p = 0.234) or modularity (p = 0.796) did not differ with transfusion. Functional connectivity within the frontoparietal network significantly strengthened after transfusion (median intranetwork Z-score 0.21 [0.17-0.30] before transfusion, 0.29 [0.20-0.36] after transfusion, p < 0.001), while there was not a significant change seen within the sensory motor, visual, auditory, default mode, dorsal attention, or cingulo-opercular networks. Corresponding to the change within the frontoparietal network, there was a significant improvement in executive function abilities after transfusion (median executive function composite score 87.7 [81.3-90.7] before transfusion, 90.3 [84.3-93.7] after transfusion, p = 0.021). Participants with stronger connectivity in the frontoparietal network before transfusion had a significantly greater improvement in the executive function composite score with transfusion (r = 0.565, 95% CI 0.020-0.851, p = 0.044). While functional connectivity and executive abilities strengthened with transfusion, there was not a significant change in white matter integrity as assessed by fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity within 16 white matter tracts or globally with tract-based spatial statistics.

DISCUSSION

Strengthening of functional connectivity with concomitant improvement in executive function abilities with transfusion suggests that functional connectivity MRI could be used as a biomarker for acutely reversible neurocognitive injury as novel therapeutics are developed for people with SCD.

The influence of voxelotor on cerebral blood flow and oxygen extraction in pediatric sickle cell disease

ABSTRACT

Voxelotor is an inhibitor of sickle hemoglobin polymerization that is used to treat sickle cell disease. Although voxelotor has been shown to improve anemia, the clinical benefit on the brain remains to be determined. This study quantified the cerebral hemodynamic effects of voxelotor in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) using noninvasive diffuse optical spectroscopies. Specifically, frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy combined with diffuse correlation spectroscopy were used to noninvasively assess regional oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), cerebral blood volume, and an index of cerebral blood flow (CBFi). Estimates of CBFi were first validated against arterial spin-labeled magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) in 8 children with SCA aged 8 to 18 years. CBFi was significantly positively correlated with ASL-MRI-measured blood flow (R2 = 0.651; P = .015). Next, a single-center, open-label pilot study was completed in 8 children with SCA aged 4 to 17 years on voxelotor, monitored before treatment initiation and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (NCT05018728). By 4 weeks, both OEF and CBFi significantly decreased, and these decreases persisted to 12 weeks (both P < .05). Decreases in CBFi were significantly correlated with increases in blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (P = .025), whereas the correlation between decreases in OEF and increases in Hb trended toward significance (P = .12). Given that previous work has shown that oxygen extraction and blood flow are elevated in pediatric SCA compared with controls, these results suggest that voxelotor may reduce cerebral hemodynamic impairments. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT05018728.

Hemoglobin in large vessel occlusion: Look further than collaterals

BACKGROUND

Abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) levels lead to poorer outcomes in ischemic stroke, though the mechanisms remain elusive. We aimed to study the role of Hb on imaging and clinical outcomes, namely on collaterals as it is a known mediator of infarct growth.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of patients with large vessel occlusion ischemic stroke admitted to our center. Demographics, clinical and imaging variables were collected, particularly baseline hemoglobin, presence of anemia and collateral score. Collaterals were scored from 0 to 3 and defined as poor if 0-1. Multivariable analyses were performed for collateral score and clinical outcomes (3-month mortality and good prognosis).

RESULTS

We included 811 patients, 215 (26.5 %) with anemia. Patients with anemia were older, had more comorbidities and more severe strokes. Hemoglobin levels and anemia were not associated with collateral score (OR 0.97, 95 % CI 0.89-1.05, p = 0.414 and OR 0.89, 95 % CI 0.64-1.24, p = 0.487, respectively) nor with poor collaterals (OR 0.96, 95 % CI 0.88-1.05, p = 0.398 and OR 0.86, 95 % CI 0.60-1.23, p = 0.406, respectively). Hb levels were associated with 3-month mortality (OR 0.85, 95 % CI 0.76-0.96, p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Hemoglobin or anemia were not found to be associated with collateral status. Our results raise further questions regarding the pathophysiology of anemia and outcomes in ischemic stroke, highlighting the need for future research.

Cerebral hemodynamic changes after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplant in adults with sickle cell disease

ABSTRACT

Preliminary evidence from a series of 4 adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) suggests that hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) improves cerebral hemodynamics. HSCT largely normalizes cerebral hemodynamics in children with SCD. We tested the hypothesis in adults with SCD that cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) measured using magnetic resonance imaging, normalized to healthy values, comparing measurements from ∼1 month before to 12 to 24 months after HSCT (n = 11; age, 33.3 ± 8.9 years; 389 ± 150 days after HSCT) with age-, race- and sex-matched values from healthy adults without sickle trait (n = 28; age, 30.2 ± 5.6 years). Before transplant, 7 patients had neurological indications for transplant (eg, overt stroke) and 4 had nonneurological reasons for haploidentical bone marrow transplant (haplo-BMT). All received haplo-BMT from first-degree relatives (parent, sibling, or child donor) with reduced-intensity preparation and maintained engraftment. Before transplant, CBF was elevated (CBF, 69.11 ± 24.7 mL/100 g/min) compared with that of controls (P = .004). Mean CBF declined significantly after haplo-BMT (posttransplant CBF, 48.2 ± 13.9 mL/100 g/min; P = .003). OEF was not different from that of controls at baseline and did not change significantly after haplo-BMT (pretransplant, 43.1 ± 6.7%; posttransplant, 39.6 ± 7.0%; P = .34). After transplant, CBF and OEF were not significantly different from controls (CBF, 48.2 ± 13.4 mL/100 g/min; P = .78; and OEF, 39.6 ± 7.0%; P > .99). CMRO2 did not change significantly after haplo-BMT (pretransplant, 3.18 ± 0.87 mL O2/100 g/min; posttransplant, 2.95 ± 0.83; P = .56). Major complications of haplo-BMT included 1 infection-related death and 1 severe chronic graft-versus-host disease. Haplo-BMT in adults with SCD reduces CBF to that of control values and maintains OEF and CMRO2 on average at levels observed in healthy adult controls. The trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01850108.

From Stress to Sick(le) and Back Again-Oxidative/Antioxidant Mechanisms, Genetic Modulation, and Cerebrovascular Disease in Children with Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic disease caused by the homozygosity of the HBB:c.20A>T mutation, which results in the production of hemoglobin S (HbS). In hypoxic conditions, HbS suffers autoxidation and polymerizes inside red blood cells, altering their morphology into a sickle shape, with increased rigidity and fragility. This triggers complex pathophysiological mechanisms, including inflammation, cell adhesion, oxidative stress, and vaso-occlusion, along with metabolic alterations and endocrine complications. SCA is phenotypically heterogeneous due to the modulation of both environmental and genetic factors. Pediatric cerebrovascular disease (CVD), namely ischemic stroke and silent cerebral infarctions, is one of the most impactful manifestations. In this review, we highlight the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of pediatric CVD. Since oxidative stress is an interdependent mechanism in vasculopathy, occurring alongside (or as result of) endothelial dysfunction, cell adhesion, inflammation, chronic hemolysis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and vaso-occlusion, a brief overview of the main mechanisms involved is included. Moreover, the genetic modulation of CVD in SCA is discussed. The knowledge of the intricate network of altered mechanisms in SCA, and how it is affected by different genetic factors, is fundamental for the identification of potential therapeutic targets, drug development, and patient-specific treatment alternatives.

Executive Function and Processing Speed in Children Living with Sickle Cell Anemia

Executive function and processing speed difficulties are observed in children living with sickle cell anemia (SCA). The influence of processing speed on executive function is not well understood. We recruited 59 children living with SCA and 24 matched controls aged 8-18 years between 2010 and 2016 from clinics in the UK. Children completed tests in processing speed and cognitive flexibility, subdomains of executive function. MRI scans were conducted within one year of testing; oxygen saturation was obtained on the day of testing. Hemoglobin levels were obtained from medical records. Caregivers completed the executive function questionnaire. Hierarchical linear regressions found that hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, age, infarct status, and processing speed were not independent predictors for any model. However, for all cognitive flexibility tests, there was a significant interaction between infarct status and processing speed; children without silent cerebral infarction (SCI) with faster processing speed had better cognitive flexibility. Our findings indicate that, when interpreting executive function difficulties, it is important to account for the relationship between SCI status and processing speed. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms, but clinically, including executive function testing as part of clinic visits by embedding psychologists within the healthcare team would appear to be a critical step.

Molecular and environmental contributors to neurological complications in sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy in which affected hemoglobin polymerizes under hypoxic conditions resulting in red cell distortion and chronic hemolytic anemia. SCD affects millions of people worldwide, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Due to vaso-occlusion of sickled red cells within the microvasculature, SCD affects virtually every organ system and causes significant morbidity and early mortality. The neurological complications of SCD are particularly devastating and diverse, ranging from overt stroke to covert cerebral injury, including silent cerebral infarctions and blood vessel tortuosity. However, even individuals without evidence of neuroanatomical changes in brain imaging have evidence of cognitive deficits compared to matched healthy controls likely due to chronic cerebral hypoxemia and neuroinflammation. In this review, we first examined the biological contributors to SCD-related neurological complications and then discussed the equally important socioenvironmental contributors. We then discuss the evidence for neuroprotection from the two primary disease-modifying therapies, chronic monthly blood transfusions and hydroxyurea, and end with several experimental therapies designed to specifically target these complications.

Brain BOLD and NIRS response to hyperoxic challenge in sickle cell disease and chronic anemias

PURPOSE

Congenital anemias, including sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, are associated with cerebral tissue hypoxia and heightened stroke risks. Recent works in sickle cell disease mouse models have suggested that hyperoxia respiratory challenges can identify regions of the brain having chronic tissue hypoxia. Therefore, this work investigated differences in hyperoxic response and regional cerebral oxygenation between anemic and healthy subjects.

METHODS

A cohort of 38 sickle cell disease subjects (age 22 ± 8 years, female 39%), 25 non-sickle anemic subjects (age 25 ± 11 years, female 52%), and 31 healthy controls (age 25 ± 10 years, female 68%) were examined. A hyperoxic gas challenge was performed with concurrent acquisition of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). In addition to hyperoxia-induced changes in BOLD and NIRS, global measurements of cerebral blood flow, oxygen delivery, and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen were obtained and compared between the three groups.

RESULTS

Regional BOLD changes were not able to identify brain regions of flow limitation in chronically anemic patients. Higher blood oxygen content and tissue oxygenation were observed during hyperoxia gas challenge. Both control and anemic groups demonstrated lower blood flow, oxygen delivery, and metabolic rate compared to baseline, but the oxygen metabolism in anemic subjects were abnormally low during hyperoxic exposure.

CONCLUSION

These results indicated that hyperoxic respiratory challenge could not be used to identify chronically ischemic brain. Furthermore, the low hyperoxia-induced metabolic rate suggested potential negative effects of prolonged oxygen therapy and required further studies to evaluate the risk for hyperoxia-induced oxygen toxicity and cerebral dysfunction.

Hematologic Disorders and the Nervous System

OBJECTIVE

This article discusses the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurologic complications of red blood cell, platelet, and plasma cell disorders.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Cerebrovascular complications can occur in patients with blood cell and platelet disorders. Treatment strategies to prevent stroke are available for patients with sickle cell disease, polycythemia vera, and essential thrombocythemia. A diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura should be considered in patients with neurologic symptoms, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, mild renal insufficiency, and fever. Plasma cell disorders can be associated with peripheral neuropathy, and classification of the monoclonal protein type and neuropathy aid in diagnosis. Patients with POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell disorder, and skin changes) syndrome can present with arterial and venous neurologic events.

ESSENTIAL POINTS

This article discusses the neurologic complications of blood cell disorders and the most recent advances in prevention and treatment.

Red cell exchange transfusions increase cerebral capillary transit times and may alter oxygen extraction in sickle cell disease

Persons with sickle cell disease (SCD) suffer from chronic hemolytic anemia, reduced blood oxygen content, and lifelong risk of silent and overt stroke. Major conventional stroke risk factors are absent in most individuals with SCD, yet nearly 50% have evidence of brain infarcts by the age of 30 years, indicating alternative etiologies for ischemia. We investigated whether radiological evidence of accelerated blood water transit through capillaries, visible on arterial spin labeling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging, reduces following transfusion-induced increases in hemoglobin and relates to oxygen extraction fraction (OEF). Neurological evaluation along with anatomical and hemodynamic imaging with cerebral blood flow (CBF)-weighted pseudocontinuous ASL and OEF imaging with T2 -relaxation-under-spin-tagging were applied in sequence before and after blood transfusion therapy (n = 32) and in a comparator cohort of nontransfused SCD participants on hydroxyurea therapy scanned at two time points to assess stability without interim intervention (n = 13). OEF was calculated separately using models derived from human hemoglobin-F, hemoglobin-A, and hemoglobin-S. Gray matter CBF and dural sinus signal, indicative of rapid blood transit, were evaluated at each time point and compared with OEF using paired statistical tests (significance: two-sided p < 0.05). No significant change in sinus signal was observed in nontransfused participants (p = 0.650), but a reduction was observed in transfused participants (p = 0.034), consistent with slower red cell transit following transfusion. The dural sinus signal intensity was inversely associated with OEF pretransfusion (p = 0.011), but not posttransfusion. Study findings suggest that transfusion-induced increases in total hemoglobin may lengthen blood transit times through cerebral capillaries and alter cerebral OEF in SCD.

Relationships of Hemoglobin Concentration, Ischemic Lesions, and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobin concentration and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) ischemic lesions are separately known to be associated with poor intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) outcomes. While hemoglobin concentrations have known relationships with ischemic stroke, it is unclear whether hemoglobin concentration is associated with DWI ischemic lesions after ICH. We sought to investigate the hypothesis that hemoglobin concentrations would associate with DWI lesions after ICH and further investigated their relationships with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Supratentorial ICH patients enrolled between 2010 and 2016 to a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study (ERICH study [Ethnic/Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage]) were assessed. Patients from this study with baseline, admission hemoglobin, and hospitalization magnetic resonance imaging were analyzed. Hemoglobin was examined as the primary exposure variable defined as a continuous variable (g/dL). Magnetic resonance imaging DWI ischemic lesion presence was assessed as the primary radiographic outcome. Primary analyses assessed relationships of hemoglobin with DWI lesions. Secondary analyses assessed relationships of DWI lesions with poor 3-month outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 4-6). These analyses were performed using separate multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for relevant covariates.

RESULTS

Of 917 patients with ICH analyzed, mean baseline hemoglobin was 13.8 g/dL (±1.9), 60% were deep ICH, and DWI lesions were identified in 27% of the cohort. In our primary analyses, increased hemoglobin, defined as a continuous variable, was associated with DWI lesions (adjusted odds ratio, 1.21 per 1 g/dL change in hemoglobin [95% CI, 1.07-1.37]) after adjusting for sex, race, ICH severity, time to magnetic resonance imaging, and acute blood pressure change. In secondary analyses, DWI lesions were associated with poor 3-month outcomes (adjusted odds ratio, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.24-2.69]) after adjusting for similar covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified novel relationships between higher baseline hemoglobin concentrations and DWI ischemic lesions in patients with ICH. Further studies are required to clarify the role of hemoglobin concentration on both cerebral small vessel disease pathophysiology and ICH outcomes.

Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Arterial Ischemic Stroke

Though rare, stroke in infants and children is an important cause of mortality and chronic morbidity in the pediatric population. Neuroimaging advances and implementation of pediatric stroke care protocols have led to the ability to rapidly diagnose stroke and in many cases determine the stroke etiology. Though data on efficacy of hyperacute therapies, such as intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, in pediatric stroke are limited, feasibility and safety data are mounting and support careful consideration of these treatments for childhood stroke. Recent therapeutic advances allow for targeted stroke prevention efforts in high-risk conditions, such as moyamoya, sickle cell disease, cardiac disease, and genetic disorders. Despite these exciting advances, important knowledge gaps persist, including optimal dosing and type of thrombolytic agents, inclusion criteria for mechanical thrombectomy, the role of immunomodulatory therapies for focal cerebral arteriopathy, optimal long-term antithrombotic strategies, the role of patent foramen ovale closure in pediatric stroke, and optimal rehabilitation strategies after stroke of the developing brain.

Silent infarction in sickle cell disease is associated with brain volume loss in excess of infarct volume

Introduction

Sickle cell disease (SCD) increases cerebral infarct risk, but reported effects on brain volume have varied. More detailed information using larger cohorts and contemporary methods could motivate the use of longitudinal brain volume assessment in SCD as an automated marker of disease stability or future progression. The purpose of this study was to rigorously evaluate whether children and young adults with SCD have reduced gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume (WMV) compared to healthy controls using high-resolution MRI. We tested the hypotheses that (i) elevated CBF, a marker of cerebral hemodynamic compensation in SCD, is associated with global and regional brain atrophy, and (ii) silent cerebral infarct burden is associated with brain atrophy in excess of infarct volume.

Methods

Healthy controls (n = 49) and SCD participants without overt stroke (n = 88) aged 7-32 years completed 3 T brain MRI; pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling measured CBF. Multivariable linear regressions assessed associations of independent variables with GMV, WMV, and volumes of cortical/subcortical regions.

Results

Reduced hemoglobin was associated with reductions in both GMV (p = 0.032) and WMV (p = 0.005); reduced arterial oxygen content (CaO2) was also associated with reductions in GMV (p = 0.035) and WMV (p = 0.006). Elevated gray matter CBF was associated with reduced WMV (p = 0.018). Infarct burden was associated with reductions in WMV 30-fold greater than the infarct volume itself (p = 0.005). Increased GM CBF correlated with volumetric reductions of the insula and left and right caudate nuclei (p = 0.017, 0.017, 0.036, respectively). Infarct burden was associated with reduced left and right nucleus accumbens, right thalamus, and anterior corpus callosum volumes (p = 0.002, 0.002, 0.009, 0.002, respectively).

Discussion

We demonstrate that anemia and decreased CaO2 are associated with reductions in GMV and WMV in SCD. Increased CBF and infarct burden were also associated with reduced volume in subcortical structures. Global WMV deficits associated with infarct burden far exceed infarct volume itself. Hemodynamic compensation via increased cerebral blood flow in SCD seems inadequate to prevent brain volume loss. Our work highlights that silent cerebral infarcts are just a portion of the brain injury that occurs in SCD; brain volume is another potential biomarker of brain injury in SCD.

Measurement of Cerebral Oxygen Extraction Fraction Using Quantitative BOLD Approach: A Review

Quantification of brain oxygenation and metabolism, both of which are indicators of the level of brain activity, plays a vital role in understanding the cerebral perfusion and the pathophysiology of brain disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a widely used clinical imaging technique, which is very sensitive to magnetic susceptibility, has the possibility of substituting positron emission tomography (PET) in measuring oxygen metabolism. This review mainly focuses on the quantitative blood oxygenation level-dependent (qBOLD) method for the evaluation of oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) in the brain. Here, we review the theoretic basis of qBOLD, as well as existing acquisition and quantification methods. Some published clinical studies are also presented, and the pros and cons of qBOLD method are discussed as well.

Normalization of cerebral hemodynamics after hematopoietic stem cell transplant in children with sickle cell disease

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) demonstrate cerebral hemodynamic stress and are at high risk of strokes. We hypothesized that curative hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) normalizes cerebral hemodynamics in children with SCD compared with pre-transplant baseline. Whole-brain cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging 1 to 3 months before and 12 to 24 months after HSCT in 10 children with SCD. Three children had prior overt strokes, 5 children had prior silent strokes, and 1 child had abnormal transcranial Doppler ultrasound velocities. CBF and OEF of HSCT recipients were compared with non-SCD control participants and with SCD participants receiving chronic red blood cell transfusion therapy (CRTT) before and after a scheduled transfusion. Seven participants received matched sibling donor HSCT, and 3 participants received 8 out of 8 matched unrelated donor HSCT. All received reduced-intensity preparation and maintained engraftment, free of hemolytic anemia and SCD symptoms. Pre-transplant, CBF (93.5 mL/100 g/min) and OEF (36.8%) were elevated compared with non-SCD control participants, declining significantly 1 to 2 years after HSCT (CBF, 72.7 mL/100 g per minute; P = .004; OEF, 27.0%; P = .002), with post-HSCT CBF and OEF similar to non-SCD control participants. Furthermore, HSCT recipients demonstrated greater reduction in CBF (-19.4 mL/100 g/min) and OEF (-8.1%) after HSCT than children with SCD receiving CRTT after a scheduled transfusion (CBF, -0.9 mL/100 g/min; P = .024; OEF, -3.3%; P = .001). Curative HSCT normalizes whole-brain hemodynamics in children with SCD. This restoration of cerebral oxygen reserve may explain stroke protection after HSCT in this high-risk patient population.

The Development of Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Cognitive Decline in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is complicated by neurologic complications including vasculopathy, hemorrhagic or ischemic overt stroke, silent cerebral infarcts and cognitive dysfunction. Patients with SCD, even in the absence of vasculopathy or stroke, have experience cognitive dysfunction that progresses with age. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound and structural brain MRI are currently used for primary and secondary stroke prevention, but laboratory or imaging biomarkers do not currently exist that are specific to the risk of cognitive dysfunction in patients with SCD. Recent investigations have used advanced MR sequences assessing cerebral hemodynamics, white matter microstructure and functional connectivity to better understand the pathophysiology of cognitive decline in SCD, with the long-term goal of developing neuroimaging biomarkers to be used in risk prediction algorithms and to assess the efficacy of treatment options for patients with SCD.

Assessment of cerebrovascular function in patients with sickle cell disease using transfer function analysis

In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), the delivery of oxygen to the brain is compromised by anemia, abnormal rheology, and steno-occlusive vascular disease. Successful compensation depends on an increase in oxygen supply such as that provided by an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF). We used magnetic resonance imaging to provide a high-resolution assessment of the ability of SCD patients to respond to a vasoactive stimulus in middle, anterior, and posterior cerebral artery territories for both white and gray matter. Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) was measured as the blood oxygen level dependent signal (a surrogate for CBF) response to an increase in the end tidal partial pressure of CO2 (PET CO2 ). The dynamic aspect of the response was measured as the time constant of the first order response kinetics (tau). To confirm and support these findings we used an alternative examination of the response, transfer function analysis (TFA), to measure the responsiveness (gain), the speed of response (phase), and the consistency of the response over time (coherence). We tested 34 patients with SCD and compared the results to those of 24 healthy controls participants. The results from a three-way ANOVA showed that patients with SCD have reduced CVR (p < 0.001) and lower coherence (p < 0.001) in gray matter and white matter and reduced gain in gray matter only (p < 0.001). In terms of the speed of the response to CO2 , tau (p < 0.001) and TFA phase (p < 0.001) were increased in SCD patients compared to healthy control subjects. These findings show that the cerebrovascular responsiveness to CO2 in patients with SCD is both decreased and slowed compared to healthy controls.

Acute Hospital Management of Pediatric Stroke

The field of pediatric stroke has historically been hampered by limited evidence and small patient cohorts. However the landscape of childhood stroke is rapidly changing due in part to increasing awareness of the importance of pediatric stroke and the emergence of dedicated pediatric stroke centers, care pathways, and alert systems. Acute pediatric stroke management hinges on timely diagnosis confirmed by neuroimaging, appropriate consideration of recanalization therapies, implementation of neuroprotective measures, and attention to secondary prevention. Because pediatric stroke is highly heterogenous in etiology, management strategies must be individualized. Determining a child's underlying stroke etiology is essential to appropriately tailoring hyperacute stroke management and determining best approach to secondary prevention. Herein, we review the methods of recognition, diagnosis, management, current knowledge gaps and promising research for pediatric stroke.

A Comparison of MRI Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping and TRUST-Based Measures of Brain Venous Oxygen Saturation in Sickle Cell Anaemia

In recent years, interest has grown in the potential for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of venous oxygen saturation (Yv) to improve neurological risk prediction. T2-relaxation-under-spin-tagging (TRUST) is an MRI technique which has revealed changes in Yv in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). However, prior studies comparing Yv in patients with SCA relative to healthy controls have reported opposing results depending on whether the calibration model, developed to convert blood T2 to Yv, is based on healthy human hemoglobin (HbA), bovine hemoglobin (HbBV) or sickle hemoglobin (HbS). MRI Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) is an alternative technique that may hold promise for estimating Yv in SCA as blood magnetic susceptibility is linearly dependent upon Yv, and no significant difference has been found between the magnetic susceptibility of HbA and HbS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare estimates of Yv using QSM and TRUST with five published calibration models in healthy controls and patients with SCA. 17 patients with SCA and 13 healthy controls underwent MRI. Susceptibility maps were calculated from a multi-parametric mapping acquisition and Yv was calculated from the mean susceptibility in a region of interest in the superior sagittal sinus. TRUST estimates of T2, within a similar but much smaller region, were converted to Yv using five different calibration models. Correlation and Bland-Altman analyses were performed to compare estimates of Yv between TRUST and QSM methods. For each method, t-tests were also used to explore group-wise differences between patients with SCA and healthy controls. In healthy controls, significant correlations were observed between QSM and TRUST measures of Yv, while in SCA, there were no such correlations. The magnitude and direction of group-wise differences in Yv varied with method. The TRUST-HbBV and QSM methods suggested decreased Yv in SCA relative to healthy controls, while the TRUST-HbS (p < 0.01) and TRUST-HbA models suggested increased Yv in SCA as in previous studies. Further validation of all MRI measures of Yv, relative to ground truth measures such as O15 PET and jugular vein catheterization, is required in SCA before QSM or TRUST methods can be considered for neurological risk prediction.

Chronic anemia: The effects on the connectivity of white matter

Chronic anemia is commonly observed in patients with hemoglobinopathies, mainly represented by disorders of altered hemoglobin (Hb) structure (sickle cell disease, SCD) and impaired Hb synthesis (e.g. thalassemia syndromes, non-SCD anemia). Both hemoglobinopathies have been associated with white matter (WM) alterations. Novel structural MRI research in our laboratory demonstrated that WM volume was diffusely lower in deep, watershed areas proportional to anemia severity. Furthermore, diffusion tensor imaging analysis has provided evidence that WM microstructure is disrupted proportionally to Hb level and oxygen saturation. SCD patients have been widely studied and demonstrate lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the corticospinal tract and cerebellum across the internal capsule and corpus callosum. In the present study, we compared 19 SCD and 15 non-SCD anemia patients with a wide range of Hb values allowing the characterization of the effects of chronic anemia in isolation of sickle Hb. We performed a tensor analysis to quantify FA changes in WM connectivity in chronic anemic patients. We calculated the volumetric mean of FA along the pathway of tracks connecting two regions of interest defined by BrainSuite's BCI-DNI atlas. In general, we found lower FA values in anemic patients; indicating the loss of coherence in the main diffusion direction that potentially indicates WM injury. We saw a positive correlation between FA and hemoglobin in these same regions, suggesting that decreased WM microstructural integrity FA is highly driven by chronic hypoxia. The only connection that did not follow this pattern was the connectivity within the left middle-inferior temporal gyrus. Interestingly, more reductions in FA were observed in non-SCD patients (mainly along with intrahemispheric WM bundles and watershed areas) than the SCD patients (mainly interhemispheric).

Quantification of Silent Cerebral Infarction on High-Resolution FLAIR and Cognition in Sickle Cell Anemia

Research in sickle cell anemia (SCA) has used, with limited race-matched control data, binary categorization of patients according to the presence or absence of silent cerebral infarction (SCI). SCI have primarily been identified using low-resolution MRI, with radiological definitions varying in lesion length and the requirement for abnormality on both fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T1-weighted images. We aimed to assess the effect of published SCI definitions on global, regional, and lobar lesion metrics and their value in predicting cognition. One hundred and six patients with SCA and 48 controls aged 8-30 years underwent 3T MRI with a high-resolution FLAIR sequence and Wechsler cognitive assessment. Prevalence, number, and volume of lesions were calculated using a semi-automated pipeline for SCI defined as: (1) Liberal: any length (L-SCI); (2) Traditional: >3 mm in greatest dimension (T-SCI); (3) Restrictive; >3 mm in greatest dimension with a corresponding T1-weighted hypo-intensity (R-SCI). Globally, as hypothesized, there were large effects of SCI definition on lesion metrics in patients and controls, with prevalence varying from 24-42% in patients, and 4-23% in controls. However, contrary to hypotheses, there was no effect of any global metric on cognition. Regionally, there was a consistent distribution of SCI in frontal and parietal deep and juxta-cortical regions across definitions and metrics in patients, but no consistent distribution in controls. Effects of regional SCI metrics on cognitive performance were of small magnitude; some were paradoxical. These findings expose the challenges associated with the widespread use of SCI presence as a biomarker of white-matter injury and cognitive dysfunction in cross-sectional high-resolution MRI studies in patients with SCA. The findings indicate that with high-resolution MRI: (1) radiological definitions have a large effect on resulting lesion groups, numbers, and volumes; (2) there is a non-negligible prevalence of lesions in young healthy controls; and (3) at the group-level, there is no cross-sectional association between global lesion metrics and general cognitive impairment irrespective of lesion definition and metric. With high-resolution multi-modal MRI, the dichotomy of presence or absence of SCI does not appear to be a sensitive biomarker for the detection of functionally significant pathology; the search for appropriate endpoints for clinical treatment trials should continue.

Cerebral hemodynamics in children with sickle cell disease in India: An observational cohort study

India has the second highest number of cases of sickle cell disease (SCD) and affects the most socioeconomically disadvantaged communities living in a horizontal belt from Gujarat to Odisha state. Despite high prevalence, information about cerebral hemodynamics among children with SCD in India remains scarcely described. We performed transcranial Doppler (TCD) to assess cerebral hemodynamics among Indian children with SCD and evaluated their association with clinical and hematological parameters. Children aged 3-18years, diagnosed with SCD living in Raipur in Chhattisgarh and Ahmedabad in Gujarat state were recruited. TCD was performed to obtain flow velocities from middle cerebral (MCA), intracranial internal carotid (ICA) and basilar artery. Associations were evaluated between timed-average-mean-maximum velocities (TAMMV) and various clinical and hematological parameters. Our prospective study included 62 consecutive children with known SCD. Mean ± SD age of the study population was 9.8 ± 3.9 years and 31 (50%) were male. Mean ± SD hemoglobin was 8.64 ± 1.34 Gm/dL while the mean HbSS ± SD was 70.25 ± 15.27%. While 6 (9.6%) children had suffered from stroke during previous 2 years, 7 (11%) demonstrated abnormal TAMMV. Higher HbSS level along with history of iron chelation therapy, blood transfusion and/or stroke showed a trend towards having higher TAMMV. Stroke and cerebral hemodynamic alterations are common among Indian children with SCD. Larger studies with detailed neuroimaging and genetic evaluations are needed for better understanding, characterization, risk stratification as well as optimization of the timing of blood transfusion to reduce physical disabilities among Indian children with SCD.

Quantifying the Cerebral Hemometabolic Response to Blood Transfusion in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease With Diffuse Optical Spectroscopies

Red blood cell transfusions are common in patients with sickle cell disease who are at increased risk of stroke. Unfortunately, transfusion thresholds needed to sufficiently dilute sickle red blood cells and adequately restore oxygen delivery to the brain are not well defined. Previous work has shown that transfusion is associated with a reduction in oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral blood flow, both of which are abnormally increased in sickle patients. These reductions are thought to alleviate hemometabolic stress by improving the brain's ability to respond to increased metabolic demand, thereby reducing susceptibility to ischemic injury. Monitoring the cerebral hemometabolic response to transfusion may enable individualized management of transfusion thresholds. Diffuse optical spectroscopies may present a low-cost, non-invasive means to monitor this response. In this study, children with SCD undergoing chronic transfusion therapy were recruited. Diffuse optical spectroscopies (namely, diffuse correlation spectroscopy combined with frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy) were used to quantify oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), an index of cerebral blood flow (CBF_i), and an index of cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO_2i) in the frontal cortex immediately before and after transfusion. A subset of patients receiving regular monthly transfusions were measured during a subsequent transfusion. Data was captured from 35 transfusions in 23 patients. Transfusion increased median blood hemoglobin levels (Hb) from 9.1 to 11.7 g/dL (p < 0.001) and decreased median sickle hemoglobin (HbS) from 30.9 to 21.7% (p < 0.001). Transfusion decreased OEF by median 5.9% (p < 0.001), CBFi by median 21.2% (p = 0.020), and CBV by median 18.2% (p < 0.001). CMRO_2i did not statistically change from pre-transfusion levels (p > 0.05). Multivariable analysis revealed varying degrees of associations between outcomes (i.e., OEF, CBF_i, CBV, and CMRO_2i), Hb, and demographics. OEF, CBF_i, and CBV were all negatively associated with Hb, while CMRO_2i was only associated with age. These results demonstrate that diffuse optical spectroscopies are sensitive to the expected decreases of oxygen extraction, blood flow, and blood volume after transfusion. Diffuse optical spectroscopies may be a promising bedside tool for real-time monitoring and goal-directed therapy to reduce stroke risk for sickle cell disease.

Anemia Increases Oxygen Extraction Fraction in Deep Brain Structures but Not in the Cerebral Cortex

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a single amino acid mutation in hemoglobin, causing chronic anemia and neurovascular complications. However, the effects of chronic anemia on oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), especially in deep brain structures, are less well understood. Conflicting OEF values have been reported in SCD patients, but have largely attributed to different measurement techniques, faulty calibration, and different locations of measurement. Thus, in this study, we investigated the reliability and agreement of two susceptibility-based methods, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and complex image summation around a spherical or a cylindrical object (CISSCO), for OEF measurements in internal cerebral vein (ICV), reflecting oxygen saturation in deep brain structures. Both methods revealed that SCD patients and non-sickle anemia patients (ACTL) have increased OEF in ICV (42.6% ± 5.6% and 30.5% ± 3.6% in SCD by CISSCO and QSM respectively, 37.0% ± 4.1% and 28.5% ± 2.3% in ACTL) compared with controls (33.0% ± 2.3% and 26.8% ± 1.8%). OEF in ICV varied reciprocally with hematocrit (r ² = 0.92, 0.53) and oxygen content (r ² = 0.86, 0.53) respectively. However, an opposite relationship was observed for OEF measurements in sagittal sinus (SS) with the widely used T₂-based oximetry, T₂-Relaxation-Under-Spin-Tagging (TRUST), in the same cohorts (31.2% ± 6.6% in SCD, 33.3% ± 5.9% in ACTL and 36.8% ± 5.6% in CTL). Importantly, we demonstrated that hemoglobin F and other fast moving hemoglobins decreased OEF by TRUST and explained group differences in sagittal sinus OEF between anemic and control subjects. These data demonstrate that anemia causes deep brain hypoxia in anemia subjects with concomitant preservation of cortical oxygenation, as well as the key interaction of the hemoglobin dissociation curve and cortical oxygen extraction.

Venous cerebral blood flow quantification and cognition in patients with sickle cell anemia

Prior studies have described high venous signal qualitatively using arterial spin labelling (ASL) in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), consistent with arteriovenous shunting. We aimed to quantify the effect and explored cross-sectional associations with arterial oxygen content (CaO2), disease-modifying treatments, silent cerebral infarction (SCI), and cognitive performance. 94 patients with SCA and 42 controls underwent cognitive assessment and MRI with single- and multi- inflow time (TI) ASL sequences. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and bolus arrival time (BAT) were examined across gray and white matter and high-signal regions of the sagittal sinus. Across gray and white matter, increases in CBF and reductions in BAT were observed in association with reduced CaO2 in patients, irrespective of sequence. Across high-signal sagittal sinus regions, CBF was also increased in association with reduced CaO2 using both sequences. However, BAT was increased rather than reduced in patients across these regions, with no association with CaO2. Using the multiTI sequence in patients, increases in CBF across white matter and high-signal sagittal sinus regions were associated with poorer cognitive performance. These novel findings highlight the utility of multiTI ASL in illuminating, and identifying objectively quantifiable and functionally significant markers of, regional hemodynamic stress in patients with SCA.

Cerebral oxygen metabolic stress is increased in children with sickle cell anemia compared to anemic controls

Patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) experience cerebral metabolic stress with an increase in oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) to compensate for reduced oxygen carrying capacity due to anemia. It remains unclear if anemia alone drives this metabolic stress. Using MRI, we collected voxel-wise OEF measurements to test our hypothesis that OEF would be elevated in anemic controls without SCA (AC) compared to healthy controls (HC), but OEF would be even higher in SCA compared to AC. Brain MRIs (N = 159) were obtained in 120 participants (34 HC, 27 AC, 59 SCA). While hemoglobin was lower in AC versus HC (p < 0.001), hemoglobin was not different between AC and SCA cohorts (p = 0.459). Whole brain OEF was higher in AC compared to HC (p < 0.001), but lower compared to SCA (p = 0.001). Whole brain OEF remained significantly higher in SCA compared to HC (p = 0.001) while there was no longer a difference between AC versus HC (p = 0.935) in a multivariate model controlling for age and hemoglobin. OEF peaked within the border zone regions of the brain in both SCA and AC cohorts, but the volume of white matter with regionally elevated OEF in AC was smaller (1.8%) than SCA (58.0%). While infarcts colocalized within regions of elevated OEF, more SCA participants had infarcts than AC (p < 0.001). We conclude that children with SCA experience elevated OEF compared to AC and HC after controlling for the impact of anemia, suggesting that there are other pathophysiologic factors besides anemia contributing to cerebral metabolic stress in children with SCA.

Revisiting anemia in sickle cell disease and finding the balance with therapeutic approaches

Chronic hemolytic anemia and intermittent acute pain episodes are the 2 hallmark characteristics of sickle cell disease (SCD). Anemia in SCD not only signals a reduction of red cell mass and oxygen delivery, but also ongoing red cell breakdown and release of cell-free hemoglobin, which together contribute to a number of pathophysiological responses and play a key role in the pathogenesis of cumulative multiorgan damage. However, although anemia is clearly associated with many detrimental outcomes, it may also have an advantage in SCD in lowering risks of potential viscosity-related complications. Until recently, clinical drug development for SCD has predominantly targeted a reduction in the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises as an endpoint, but increasingly, more attention is being directed toward addressing the contribution of chronic anemia to poor outcomes in SCD. This article aims to explore the complex pathophysiology and mechanisms of anemia in SCD, as well as the need to balance the benefits of raising hemoglobin levels with the potential risks of increasing blood viscosity, in the context of the current therapeutic landscape for anemia in SCD.

Cerebral oxygen extraction fraction MRI: Techniques and applications

The human brain constitutes 2% of the body's total mass but uses 20% of the oxygen. The rate of the brain's oxygen utilization can be derived from a knowledge of cerebral blood flow and the oxygen extraction fraction (OEF). Therefore, OEF is a key physiological parameter of the brain's function and metabolism. OEF has been suggested to be a useful biomarker in a number of brain diseases. With recent advances in MRI techniques, several MRI-based methods have been developed to measure OEF in the human brain. These MRI OEF techniques are based on the T₂ of blood, the blood signal phase, the magnetic susceptibility of blood-containing voxels, the effect of deoxyhemoglobin on signal behavior in extravascular tissue, and the calibration of the BOLD signal using gas inhalation. Compared to ¹⁵ O PET, which is considered the "gold standard" for OEF measurement, MRI-based techniques are non-invasive, radiation-free, and are more widely available. This article provides a review of these emerging MRI-based OEF techniques. We first briefly introduce the role of OEF in brain oxygen homeostasis. We then review the methodological aspects of different categories of MRI OEF techniques, including their signal mechanisms, acquisition methods, and data analyses. The strengths and limitations of the techniques are discussed. Finally, we review key applications of these techniques in physiological and pathological conditions.

Individual Watershed Areas in Sickle Cell Anemia: An Arterial Spin Labeling Study

Previous studies have pointed to a role for regional cerebral hemodynamic stress in neurological complications in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), with watershed regions identified as particularly at risk of ischemic tissue injury. Using single- and multi-inflow time (TI) arterial spin labeling sequences (ASL) in 94 patients with SCA and 42 controls, the present study sought to investigate cerebral blood flow (CBF) and bolus arrival times (BAT) across gray matter, white matter with early arrival times, and in individual watershed areas (iWSAs). In iWSAs, associations between hemodynamic parameters, lesion burden, white matter integrity, and general cognitive performance were also explored. In patients, increases in CBF and reductions in BAT were observed in association with reduced arterial oxygen content across gray matter and white matter with early arrival times using both sequences (all p < 0.001, d = -1.55--2.21). Across iWSAs, there was a discrepancy between sequences, with estimates based on the single-TI sequence indicating higher CBF in association with reduced arterial oxygen content in SCA patients, and estimates based on the multi-TI sequence indicating no significant between-group differences or associations with arterial oxygen content. Lesion burden was similar between white matter with early arrival times and iWSAs in both patients and controls, and using both sequences, only trend-level associations between iWSA CBF and iWSA lesion burden were observed in patients. Further, using the multi-TI sequence in patients, increased iWSA CBF was associated with reduced iWSA microstructural tissue integrity and slower processing speed. Taken together, the results highlight the need for researchers to consider BAT when estimating CBF using single-TI sequences. Moreover, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of multi-TI ASL for objective delineation of iWSAs and for detection of regional hemodynamic stress that is associated with reduced microstructural tissue integrity and slower processing speed. This technique may hold promise for future studies and treatment trials.

Assessing Cerebrovascular Resistance in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

In patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) the delivery of oxygen to the brain is compromised by anemia, abnormal rheology, and steno-occlusive vascular disease. Meeting demands for oxygen delivery requires compensatory features of brain perfusion. The cerebral vasculature’s regulatory function and reserves can be assessed by observing the flow response to a vasoactive stimulus. In a traditional approach we measured voxel-wise change in Blood Oxygen-Level Dependent (BOLD) MRI signal as a surrogate of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in response to a linear progressive ramping of end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO₂). Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) was defined as ΔBOLD/ΔPETCO₂. We used a computer model to fit a virtual sigmoid resistance curve to the progressive CBF response to the stimulus, enabling the calculation of resistance parameters: amplitude, midpoint, range response, resistance sensitivity and vasodilatory reserve. The quality of the resistance sigmoid fit was expressed as the r² of the fit. We tested 35 patients with SCD, as well as 24 healthy subjects to provide an indication of the normal ranges of the resistance parameters. We found that gray matter CVR and resistance amplitude, range, reserve, and sensitivity are reduced in patients with SCD compared to healthy controls, while resistance midpoint was increased. This study is the first to document resistance measures in adult patients with SCD. It is also the first to score these vascular resistance measures in comparison to the normal range. We anticipate these data will complement the current understanding of the cerebral vascular pathophysiology of SCD, identify paths for therapeutic interventions, and provide biomarkers for monitoring the progress of the disease.

Brain Oxygen Extraction and Metabolism in Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease: Comparison of Four Calibration Models

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy with an increased risk of neurological complications. Due to anemia and other factors related to the underlying hemoglobinopathy, cerebral blood flow (CBF) increases as compensation; however, the nature of alterations in oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) in SCD remains controversial, largely attributed to the different calibration models. In addition, limited studies have been done to investigate oxygen metabolism in pediatric patients. Thus, this study used a non-invasive T2-based MR oximetry, T2-Relaxation-Under-Spin-Tagging (TRUST) MRI, to measure oxygen homeostasis in pediatric patients with SCD using four different calibration models and examined its relationship to hematological measures. It was found that, compared with controls, SCD patients showed an increased CBF, unchanged total oxygen delivery and increased venous blood T2. The results of OEF and CMRO2 were dependent on the calibration models used. When using sickle-specific, hemoglobin S (HbS) level-dependent calibration, there was a decreased OEF and CMRO2, while the bovine model showed an opposite result. OEF and CMRO2 were also associated with hemoglobin and HbS level; the direction of the relationship was again dependent on the model. Future studies with in vivo calibration are needed to provide more accurate information on the T2-Yv relationship.

Characterizing Intracranial Hemodynamics in Sickle Cell Anemia: Impact of Patient-Specific Viscosity

PURPOSE

Pediatric and adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) are at increased risk of stroke and cerebrovascular accident. In the general adult population, there is a relationship between arterial hemodynamics and pathology; however, this relationship in SCA patients remains to be elucidated. The aim of this work was to characterize circle of Willis hemodynamics in patients with SCA and quantify the impact of viscosity choice on pathophysiologically-relevant hemodynamics measures.

METHODS

Based on measured vascular geometries, time-varying flow rates, and blood parameters, detailed patient-specific simulations of the circle of Willis were conducted for SCA patients (n = 6). Simulations quantified the impact of patient-specific and standard blood viscosities on wall shear stress (WSS).

RESULTS

These results demonstrated that use of a standard blood viscosity introduces large errors into the estimation of pathophysiologically-relevant hemodynamic parameters. Standard viscosity models overpredicted peak WSS by 55% and 49% for steady and pulsatile flow, respectively. Moreover, these results demonstrated non-uniform, spatial patterns of positive and negative WSS errors related to viscosity, and standard viscosity simulations overpredicted the time-averaged WSS by 32% (standard deviation = 7.1%). Finally, differences in shear rate demonstrated that the viscosity choice alters the simulated near-wall flow field, impacting hemodynamics measures.

CONCLUSIONS

This work presents simulations of circle of Willis arterial flow in SCA patients and demonstrates the importance and feasibility of using a patient-specific viscosity in these simulations. Accurately characterizing cerebrovascular hemodynamics in SCA populations has potential for elucidating the pathophysiology of large-vessel occlusion, aneurysms, and tissue damage in these patients.

Imaging Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Through MRI in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease: A Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption may lead to endothelium dysfunction and inflammation in sickle cell disease (SCD). However, abnormalities of BBB in SCD, especially in pediatric patients for whom contrast agent administration less than optimal, have not been fully characterized.

PURPOSE

To examine BBB permeability to water in a group of pediatric SCD participants using a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging technique. We hypothesized that SCD participants will have increased BBB permeability.

STUDY TYPE

Prospective cross-sectional.

POPULATION

Twenty-six pediatric participants (10 ± 1 years, 15F/11M) were enrolled, including 21 SCD participants and 5 sickle cell trait (SCT) participants, who were siblings of SCD patients.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

3 T. Water extraction with phase-contrast arterial spin tagging with echo-planer imaging, phase-contrast and T₁ -weighted magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition of gradient echo.

ASSESSMENT

Water extraction fraction (E), BBB permeability-surface area product (PS), cerebral blood flow, hematological measures (hemoglobin, hematocrit, hemoglobin S), neuropsychological scores (including domains of intellectual ability, attention and executive function, academic achievement and adaptive function, and a composite score). Regions of interest were drawn by Z.L. (6 years of experience).

STATISTICAL TESTS

Wilcoxon rank sum test and chi-square test for group comparison of demographics. Multiple linear regression analysis of PS with diagnostic category (SCD or SCT), hematological measures, and neuropsychological scores. A two-tailed P value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Compared with SCT participants, SCD participants had a significantly higher BBB permeability to water (SCD: 207.0 ± 33.3 mL/100 g/minute, SCT: 171.2 ± 27.2 mL/100 g/minute). SCD participants with typically more severe phenotypes also had a significantly leakier BBB than those with typically milder phenotypes (severe: 217.3 ± 31.7 mL/100 g/minute, mild: 193.3 ± 31.8 mL/100 g/minute). Furthermore, more severe BBB disruption was associated with worse hematological symptoms, including lower hemoglobin concentrations (β = -8.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-14.69, -3.00]), lower hematocrits (β = -2.96, 95% CI [-4.84, -1.08]), and higher hemoglobin S fraction (β = 0.77, 95% CI [0.014, 1.53]).

DATA CONCLUSION

These findings support a potential role for BBB dysfunction in SCD pathogenesis of ischemic injury.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Low Rates of Cerebral Infarction after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease at High Risk for Stroke

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can be curative for sickle cell disease (SCD). SCD patients with cerebrovascular disease are often referred for HSCT. The objective of this study was to describe neurologic outcomes after HSCT in patients with pre-existing SCD and cerebrovascular comorbidity. Patients with SCD treated with HSCT at a single center between 1996 and 2019 were identified. Patients with cerebral ischemia and/or vasculopathy before undergoing HSCT were included. Patients with graft failure were excluded. The cohort was divided into 3 groups: symptomatic stroke, vasculopathy without symptomatic stroke, and isolated silent cerebral infarction (SCI). Magnetic resonance imaging/angiography and neurologic assessments pre- and post-HSCT were analyzed to assess outcomes. In a cohort of 44 patients, there were 25 with symptomatic infarction, 10 with vasculopathy, and 9 with isolated SCI. Post-HSCT ischemic injury (2 symptomatic strokes, 2 SCIs) was identified in 4 patients, all with previous symptomatic infarction. Within this group (n = 25), the post-HSCT incidence of subsequent symptomatic infarction was 1.6 events/100 patient-years, and SCIs occurred at a rate of 2.2 events/100 patient-years. No patient had progression of vasculopathy post-HSCT. Our data show a low incidence of new ischemic injury after successful HSCT for SCD. Patients with a history of both symptomatic stroke and vasculopathy are at greatest risk for post-HSCT ischemic injury.

The Spatiotemporal Evolution of MRI-Derived Oxygen Extraction Fraction and Perfusion in Ischemic Stroke

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the spatiotemporal evolution of oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) in ischemic stroke with a newly developed cluster analysis of time evolution (CAT) for a combined quantitative susceptibility mapping and quantitative blood oxygen level-dependent model (QSM + qBOLD, QQ).

Method

One hundred and fifteen patients in different ischemic stroke phases were retrospectively collected for measurement of OEF of the infarcted area defined on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Clinical severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Of the 115 patients, 11 underwent two longitudinal MRI scans, namely, three-dimensional (3D) multi-echo gradient recalled echo (mGRE) and 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL), to evaluate the reversal region (RR) of the initial diffusion lesion (IDL) that did not overlap with the final infarct (FI). The temporal evolution of OEF and the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the IDL, the RR, and the FI were assessed.

Results

Compared to the contralateral mirror area, the OEF of the infarcted region was decreased regardless of stroke phases (p < 0.05) and showed a declining tendency from the acute to the chronic phase (p = 0.022). Five of the 11 patients with longitudinal scans showed reversal of the IDL. Relative oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF, compared to the contralateral mirror area) of the RR increased from the first to the second MRI (p = 0.044). CBF was about 1.5-fold higher in the IDL than in the contralateral mirror area in the first MRI. Two patients showed penumbra according to the enlarged FI volume. The rOEF of the penumbra fluctuated around 1.0 at earlier scan times and then decreased, while the CBF decreased continuously.

Conclusion

The spatiotemporal evolution of OEF and perfusion in ischemic lesions is heterogeneous, and the CAT-based QQ method is feasible to capture cerebral oxygen metabolic information.

Neurologic and Cognitive Outcomes in Sickle Cell Disease from Infancy through Adolescence

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for neurologic and cognitive complications beginning in early childhood. Current treatment for SCD focuses on primary prevention of complications, such as hydroxyurea for prevention of pain and acute chest syndrome, and chronic transfusion therapy for children who are at high risk for strokes. In this article, the prevalence, pathophysiology, and available interventions to prevent and treat neurologic and cognitive complications of SCD will be reviewed.

Reduced global cerebral oxygen metabolic rate in sickle cell disease and chronic anemias

Anemia is the most common blood disorder in the world. In patients with chronic anemia, such as sickle cell disease or major thalassemia, cerebral blood flow increases to compensate for decreased oxygen content. However, the effects of chronic anemia on oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2 ) are less well understood. In this study, we examined 47 sickle-cell anemia subjects (age 21.7 ± 7.1, female 45%), 27 non-sickle anemic subjects (age 25.0 ± 10.4, female 52%) and 44 healthy controls (age 26.4 ± 10.6, female 71%) using MRI metrics of brain oxygenation and flow. Phase contrast MRI was used to measure resting cerebral blood flow, while T2 -relaxation-under-spin-tagging (TRUST) MRI with disease appropriate calibrations were used to measure OEF and CMRO2 . We observed that patients with sickle cell disease and other chronic anemias have decreased OEF and CMRO2 (respectively 27.4 ± 4.1% and 3.39 ± 0.71 ml O2 /100 g/min in sickle cell disease, 30.8 ± 5.2% and 3.53 ± 0.64 ml O2 /100 g/min in other anemias) compared to controls (36.7 ± 6.0% and 4.00 ± 0.65 ml O2 /100 g/min). Impaired CMRO2 was proportional to the degree of anemia severity. We further demonstrate striking concordance of the present work with pooled historical data from patients having broad etiologies for their anemia. The reduced cerebral oxygen extraction and metabolism are consistent with emerging data demonstrating increased non-nutritive flow, or physiological shunting, in sickle cell disease patients.

Cerebral Oxygen Metabolic Stress, Microstructural Injury, and Infarction in Adults With Sickle Cell Disease

OBJECTIVE

To determine the patient- and tissue-based relationships between cerebral hemodynamic and oxygen metabolic stress, microstructural injury, and infarct location in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD).

METHODS

Control and SCD participants underwent brain MRI to quantify cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) within normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), and infarcts on FLAIR. Multivariable linear regression examined the patient- and voxel-based associations between hemodynamic and metabolic stress (defined as elevated CBF and OEF, respectively), white matter microstructure, and infarct location.

RESULTS

Of 83 control and SCD participants, adults with SCD demonstrated increased CBF (50.9 vs 38.8 mL/min/100g, p<0.001), increased OEF (0.35 vs 0.25, p<0.001), increased MD (0.76 vs 0.72 x 10^-3mm² s^-1, p=0.005), and decreased FA (0.40 vs 0.42, p=0.021) within NAWM compared to controls. In multivariable analysis, increased OEF (β=0.19, p=0.035), but not CBF (β=0.00, p=0.340), independently predicted increased MD in the SCD cohort, while neither were predictors in controls. On voxel-wise regression, the SCD cohort demonstrated widespread OEF elevation, encompassing deep white matter regions of elevated MD and reduced FA, which spatially extended beyond high density infarct locations from the SCD cohort.

CONCLUSION

Elevated OEF, a putative index of cerebral oxygen metabolic stress, may provide a metric of ischemic vulnerability which could enable individualization of therapeutic strategies in SCD. The patient- and tissue-based relationships between elevated OEF, elevated MD, and cerebral infarcts suggest that oxygen metabolic stress may underlie microstructural injury prior to the development of cerebral infarcts in SCD.

Safety of 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a well-characterized hemoglobinopathy affecting more than 20 million individuals worldwide and carries an increased risk of cerebral vasculopathy, cerebral infarct, and stroke. As mechanisms of cerebral infarction in SCD are partly attributable to microvascular vaso-occlusive crises, manifesting as altered cerebral blood flow and associated impaired oxygen delivery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods that can quickly provide a comprehensive perspective on structural and functional disease status, without exogenous contrast administration or ionizing radiation, have emerged as crucial clinical tools for surveillance. However, early ex vivo MRI work in suspended erythrocytes containing hemoglobin S at 0.35 Tesla (T) suggested that sickled erythrocytes can orient preferentially in the presence of an external magnetic field, and as such, it was suggested that MRI exams in sickle cell hemoglobinopathy could induce vaso-occlusion. While this observation has generally not impacted clinical imaging in individuals with SCD, it has led to resistance for some sickle cell studies within the engineering community among some imaging scientists as this early observation has never been rigorously shown to be unconcerning. Here, we performed MRI at the clinical field strength of 3 T in 172 patients with SCD, which included standard anatomical and angiographic assessments together with gold standard diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI; spatial resolution = 1.8 × 1.8 × 4 mm; b-value = 1000 s/mm²) for acute infarct assessment (performed approximately 20 min after patient introduction to the field isocenter). The presence of vasculopathy, as well as chronic and acute infarcts, was evaluated by two independent board-certified radiologists using standard clinical criteria. In these patients (52.3% female; mean age = 19.6 years; age range = 6–44 years), hematocrit (mean = 25.8%; range = 15–36%), hemoglobin phenotype (87.8% HbSS variant), presence of silent infarct (44.2%), and overt chronic infarct (13.4%) were consistent with a typical SCD population; however, no participants exhibited evidence of acute infarction. These findings are consistent with 3 T MRI not inducing acute infarction or vaso-occlusion in individuals with SCD and suggest that earlier low-field ex vivo work of erythrocytes in suspension is not a sufficient cause to discourage MRI scans in patients with SCD.

Advances in neuroimaging to improve care in sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease is associated with progressive and increased neurological morbidity throughout the lifespan. In people with sickle cell anaemia (the most common and severe type of sickle cell disease), silent cerebral infarcts are found in more than a third of adolescents by age 18 years and roughly half of young adults by age 30 years, many of whom have cognitive impairment despite having few or no conventional stroke risk factors. Common anatomical neuroimaging in individuals with sickle disease can assess structural brain injury, such as stroke and silent cerebral infarcts; however, emerging advanced neuroimaging methods can provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, including insights into the cerebral haemodynamic and metabolic contributors of neurological injury. Advanced neuroimaging methods, particularly methods that report on aberrant cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery, have potential for triaging patients for appropriate disease-modifying or curative therapies before they have irreversible neurological injury, and for confirming the benefit of new therapies on brain health in clinical trials.

MRI detection of brain abnormality in sickle cell disease

Introduction: Over the past decades, neuroimaging studies have clarified that a significant proportion of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have functionally significant brain abnormalities. Clinically, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences (T2, FLAIR, diffusion-weighted imaging) have been used by radiologists to diagnose chronic and acute cerebral infarction (both overt and clinically silent), while magnetic resonance angiography and venography have been used to diagnose arteriopathy and venous thrombosis. In research settings, imaging scientists are increasingly applying quantitative techniques to shine further light on underlying mechanisms.Areas covered: From a June 2020 PubMed search of 'magnetic' or 'MRI' and 'sickle' over the previous 5 years, we selected manuscripts on T1-based morphometric analysis, diffusion tensor imaging, arterial spin labeling, T2-oximetry, quantitative susceptibility, and connectivity.Expert Opinion: Quantitative MRI techniques are identifying structural and hemodynamic biomarkers associated with risk of neurological and neurocognitive complications. A growing body of evidence suggests that these biomarkers are sensitive to change with treatments, such as blood transfusion and hydroxyurea, indicating that they may hold promise as endpoints in future randomized clinical trials of novel approaches including hemoglobin F upregulation, reduction of polymerization, and gene therapy. With further validation, such techniques may eventually also improve neurological and neurocognitive risk stratification in this vulnerable population.

Hydroyxurea improves cerebral oxygen saturation in children with sickle cell anemia

Neurologic complications are common in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), but conventional tools such as MRI and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) do not fully assess cerebrovascular pathology. Cerebral tissue oximetry measures mixed oxygen saturation in the frontal lobes (S_CT O₂ ) and provides early prognostic information about tissue at risk of ischemic injury. Untreated patients with SCA have significantly lower S_CT O₂ than healthy controls that declines with age. Hydroxyurea is effective in preventing many SCA-related complications, but the degree to which it preserves normal neurophysiology is unclear. We analyzed participants enrolled in the Therapeutic Response Evaluation and Adherence Trial (TREAT, NCT02286154), which enrolled participants initiating hydroxyurea using individualized dosing (new cohort) and those previously taking hydroxyurea (old cohort) and was designed to monitor the long-term benefits of hydroxyurea. Cerebral oximetry was performed at baseline and annually. For the new cohort (median starting age = 12 months, n = 55), mean baseline S_CT O₂ was normal before starting hydroxyurea (mean 65%, 95% CI 58-72%) and significantly increased after 2 years (mean 72%, 95% CI 65-79%, p < .001). The S_CT O₂ for patients receiving long-term hydroxyurea (median age = 9.6 years) was normal at study entry (mean 66%, 95% CI 58-74%) and remained stable across 2 years. Both cohorts had significantly higher S_CT O₂ than published data from predominantly untreated SCA patients. Cerebral oximetry is a non-invasive method to assess cerebrovascular pathology that complements conventional imaging. Our results indicate that hydroxyurea suggests protection against neurophysiologic changes seen in untreated SCA.