Evaluation of blood-brain barrier in patients with arterial hypertension and encephalopathy using contrast-enhanced MRI

The study included 15 patients with arterial hypertension and verified periventricular enhancement of Т2-weighted MR image in a zone around the horns of lateral brain ventricles. All patients as well as control nonhypertensive group underwent MRI study enhanced with injection of paramagnetic contrast agent as 2 ml of 0,5M saline sloution per 10 kg of BW. The enhancement of periventricular T1-weighted image after contrast injection was quantified as ratio of MRI intensities after and before injection. Increase of permeability of blood-brain barrier in zones of periventricular hypostasis was revealed.