Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Prediction of Delayed Neuro-psychiatric Sequelae in Patients with Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae (DNS) encompass a broad spectrum of neurological deficits, cognitive impairments, and affective disorders which commonly occur after a recovery from acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The early identification of patients with a high risk of DNS might improve their quality of care. Thus, we studied the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the prediction of DNS. METHODS: This retrospective study included 41 patients with CO poisoning from January 2009 to June 2012. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed within seven days after CO poisoning. Positive MRI findings were defined as focal or diffuse signals in fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and T2 weighted imaging (T2WI). DNS was considered present when patients had clinical symptoms and signs of DNS within 3 months after CO poisoning. Clinical and biohumoral data were collected; univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify the predictive role of MRI for DNS. RESULTS: DNS occurred at a rate of 58.5%, with abnormal MRI findings associated with the development of DNS in the multivariate analysis. The sensitivity of MRI to DNS was 82.6%. In contrast, a normal MRI was seen in eighteen patients (43.9%). MRI revealed abnormalities in the deep white matter (41.5%), globus pallidus (34.1%), cerebral cortex (12.2%), medial temporal lobe (MTL)/hippocampus (7.3%), and cerebellum (4.9%). Among the MRI abnormalities revealed, lesions in the deep white matter were significantly associated with DNS development. Abnormal findings of the globus pallidus, cerebral cortex, MTL/hippocampus, and cerebellum were not associated with DNS development. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the utility of early MRI for the prediction of DNS. Future studies will be required to ascertain the prevention of DNS with hyperbaric treatment in CO poisoning.