Study on cerebral blood flow of perihematomal tissue in hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage with MRI perfusion weighted imaging

Objective To study alterations of cerebral blood flow in perihematomal tissue in acute and subacute hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage with MRI perfusion weighted imaging. Methods 24 consecutive patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH) admitted to the department of neurology of the affiliated hospital of Nantong university from October 2011 to September 2013 were recruited in the study. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging at days 3 and 14 after symptom onset. The relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured and calculated using perfusion weighted imaging (PWI) in the 1 cm-wide area around the hematoma, as well as in the damaged area around the hematoma and the ipsilateral remote area. Results The values of rCBF in the 1 cm-wide area around the hematoma and in the damaged area around the hematoma were significantly lower than in the ipsilateral remote area at days 3 and 14 after symptom onset. Compared with day 3 after symptom onset, the values of rCBF in the 1 cm-wide area around the hematoma and in the damaged area around the hematoma were significantly decreased at day 14 after symptom onset. Conclusions There exits pronounced hypoperfusion in the tissue around the hematoma during the phases of acute and subacute hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. MRI perfusion weighted imaging may contribute to display the alteration of cerebral blood flow of perihematomal tissue, and be with certain clinical applicatin value. Key words: Intracerebral hemorrhage; Perihematomal tissue; MRI; Perfusion weighted imaging