Evaluation of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid as well as gender and age characteristics in patients with communicating hydrocephalus, using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging

• Published in: Acta neurologica Belgica Vol. 116; no. 4; pp. 495 - 501
• Main Authors: Bogomyakova, Olga, Stankevich, Yu, Mesropyan, N., Shaybman, L., Tulupov, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2016
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Female; Humans; Hydrocephalus - cerebrospinal fluid; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medicine/Public Health; Middle Aged; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosciences; Original Article; Young Adult; Cerebrospinal fluid; Magnetic resonance imaging; Central nervous system; Communicating hydrocephalus
• ISSN: 0300-9009; 2240-2993; 2240-2993
• DOI: 10.1007/s13760-016-0608-3

To determine the difference in the velocity parameters of cerebrospinal fluid flow in patients with varying severity of communicating hydrocephalus compared to a group of healthy volunteers without hydrodynamic disorders. The study involved 35 subjects with communicating hydrocephalus (25 subjects with Evans index of 0.31; 10 subject with Evans index of 0.46) and 62 healthy volunteers. The mean, volume, and peak flow velocities were determined at the different intracranial levels. Also were made an assessment of gender and age differences. Analysis of the differences between the mean values showed the progressive inhibition of cerebrospinal fluid outflow from the cranial cavity [in moderate communicating hydrocephalus—at 1.5 times ( p  < 0.05), in severe communicating hydrocephalus at 2–2.5 times ( p  < 0.01)], depending on the severity of enlargement of the ventricular system and, most likely, related to inhibition of its reabsorption. These changes may explain the clinical symptoms of subjects and serve as diagnostic criteria. Also it was revealed a significant influence of the factor of age on speed characteristics of the cerebrospinal fluid flow ( F  = 5.3303, p  = 0.0003, for mean velocity).