T1-Weighted Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Evaluation of Different Stages of Neurocysticercosis and Its Relationship with Serum MMP-9 Expression

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Epileptogenesis in NCC is associated with perilesional inflammation and disruption in BBB. We quantified BBB in different stages of NCC by using DCE-MR imaging to look for the differences in perfusion indices and to correlate these indices with serum MMP-9 expression.

Neurocysticercosis: A natural human model of epileptogenesis

“…Genetic susceptibilities for seizures may be consequence of enhanced ability to mount, control or resolve inflammatory response to the degenerating cyst 16 or to altered susceptibility to develop seizures/epilepsy 5, 17 . A genetic propensity to become infected or have greater infection burden may also exist.…”

A comprehensive review of imaging findings in human cysticercosis

“…There is breakdown of bloodbrain barrier by the host's inflammatory response which causes postcontrast enhancement. The breakdown of the blood-brain barrier has been demonstrated by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI wherein Kep values correlated best with serum MMP-9 expression which represents closely the degree of blood-brain barrier breakdown, and it is highest in the colloidal vesicular stage [20].…”

“…Kep values are found to correlate best with serum MMP-9 and are highest in the colloidal vesicular stage and lowest in the calcified stage. Perilesional inflammation is present in symptomatic patients at the calcified stage of NCC which can be quantified using DCE-MRI, where Kep values are higher in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients [20,49].…”

Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR: Importance of Reaching the Washout Phase

“…1 In the Materials and Methods section, the authors describe their dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) study protocol as follows: "A series of 384 images during 32 time points for 12 sections were acquired (temporal resolution, 5.65 seconds)." However, 32 time points ϫ 5.65 seconds of temporal resolution results in a 3-minute-long DCE-MR study.…”