Vasodilatory response of border zones to acetazolamide before and after endarterectomy : an echo planar imaging-dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MRI study in patients with high-grade unilateral internal carotid artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The importance of hemodynamic changes related to a high-grade internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis remains a matter of controversy. Areas between the vascular territories of major cerebral arteries, namely, the border zones, may be selectively vulnerable to hemodynamic alteration. The aim of this study was to search for any hemodynamic impact of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) on vasodilatory response, in particular, within the border zones, by means of multislice dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI. METHODS Thirteen patients with a high-grade unilateral ICA stenosis (>80%) were examined. Relative regional cerebral blood volume (rrCBV) was determined separately for white matter, gray matter, and anterior and posterior border zones by the acetazolamide test. A vasomotor reactivity index was evaluated from the rrCBV values. Values from the ipsilateral hemisphere were compared with contralateral ones, before and after CEA. RESULTS Before CEA, rrCBV values in the anterior border zones were significantly (P<0.05) higher in the ipsilateral hemisphere than in the contralateral hemisphere. A decrease in vasomotor reactivity indexes was also observed in the lesion side, but the difference from the contralateral side was not statistically significant. In posterior border zones, no differences in rrCBV or vasomotor reactivity were found between the ipsilateral and the contralateral hemispheres. After CEA, the rrCBV asymmetry in the anterior border zones cleared. CONCLUSIONS High-grade ICA stenosis with efficient primary collateral pathways may have an early limited hemodynamic impact within border-zone areas. The favorable course of these abnormalities after surgery suggests an additional benefit of CEA at this stage.