Three-dimensional Arterial Spin-labeling Perfusion Imaging in Measuring the Dynamic Changes of Cerebral Blood Flow Between Plain and High Altitude Areas / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

PurposeIt is well known hypobaric hypoxia occurs with acute exposure to high altitude, with commonly associated change of cerebral blood flow (CBF). In this work, three-dimensional arterial spin-labeling (3D ASL) was used to monitor the change of CBF to further extend our understanding of hypobaric hypoxia.Materials and Methods Six healthy subjects were recruited for this study, they were asked to stay at high altitude areas for 5 days, and then returned to the plain. All subjects received MRI examination in both plain and high altitude areas using exactly the same 3.0T MR scanner. A total of 8 MR scans were performed, and all the parameters were kept the same, the changes of cerebral blood flow were observed.ResultsCBF increased obviously and reached its peak after acute exposure to high altitude, at the first day at high altitude, CBF measurements in global brain, grey matter and white matter increased signiifcantly compared to the plain, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); after that, the CBF measurements started to gradually decrease in the second day and a small climb on the third day at high altitude, then the CBF continued to drop after returning to sea level, even below that at sea level prior to departure. After 1 week back to the plain area, CBF measurements in global brain, grey matter and white matter were still lower than those before departure for high altitude areas, with a statistically signiifcant difference (P<0.05).ConclusionCBF measurements had obvious increase upon initial arrival at high altitude, and then the CBF continued to drop even below that at sea level prior to departure.