Predicting the Aqueductal Cerebrospinal Fluid Pulse: A Statistical Approach

Abstract

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulse in the Aqueduct of Sylvius (aCSF pulse) is often used to evaluate structural changes in the brain. Here we present a novel application of the general linear model (GLM) to predict the motion of the aCSF pulse. MR venography was performed on 13 healthy adults (9 female and 4 males—mean age = 33.2 years). Flow data was acquired from the arterial, venous and CSF vessels in the neck (C2/C3 level) and from the AoS. Regression analysis was undertaken to predict the motion of the aCSF pulse using the cervical flow rates as predictor variables. The relative contribution of these variables to predicting aCSF flow rate was assessed using a relative weights method, coupled with an ANOVA. Analysis revealed that the aCSF pulse could be accurately predicted (mean (SD) adjusted r2 = 0.794 (0.184)) using the GLM (p < 0.01). Venous flow rate in the neck was the strongest predictor of aCSF pulse (p = 0.001). In healthy individuals, the motion of the aCSF pulse can be predicted using the GLM. This indicates that the intracranial fluidic system has broadly linear characteristics. Venous flow in the neck is the strongest predictor of the aCSF pulse.

Blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow oscillations measured with real-time phase-contrast MRI: breathing mode matters

“…The high respiratory modulation of the venous ow rate during the PD breathing con rmed the results of previous works (12,23,29), since the effect of the thoracic pump increases with forced respiration. Being the venous and CSF ows highly dependent (12,26,30), the respiratory modulation had a great effect also for the CSF ow rate, and increased with forced breathing when compared to other breathing conditions. We have to underline that with our experiment we demonstrated that the respiration type in uences also the arterial ow.…”

Real-Time Phase-Contrast MRI to Monitor Cervical Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Beat-by-Beat Variability

“…In addition, despite being beyond the scope of this work, it is worth mentioning a potential impact on hemodynamic modelling studies, i.e., the modelling of AF, VF, and CSFF and their interactions in the IC circulation [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. In this field, moving from the fitting of single gated wave shapes to several sampled ones is expected to highly increase the statistical power of model fitting to be exploited by parametric identification.…”

Results of Numerical Modeling of Blood Flow in the Internal Jugular Vein Exhibiting Different Types of Strictures

“…The activation of the glymphatic system primarily depends on a temporary decrease of the cortical blood flow, followed by a wave of inflow of the cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal canal to the cranial cavity [ 14 ]. Considering the Kellie–Monroe doctrine, proper interplay between the arterial and cerebrospinal flow requires an undisturbed venous outflow from the cranial cavity, and indeed an anomalous flow of the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as an imbalance between cerebral arterial and venous flow, has been demonstrated in multiple sclerosis patients [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. About ten years ago, it was hoped that venous angioplasty for abnormal IJVs would be a much-awaited treatment for multiple sclerosis.…”