Hemodynamic evaluation of patients with Moyamoya Angiopathy: comparison of resting-state fMRI to breath-hold fMRI and [O-15]water PET

Purpose Patients with Moyamoya Angiopathy (MMA) require hemodynamic evaluation to assess the risk of stroke. Assessment of cerebral blood flow with [O-15]water PET and acetazolamide challenge is the diagnostic standard for the evaluation of the cerebral perfusion reserve (CPR). Estimation of the cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) by use of breath-hold-triggered fMRI (bh-fMRI) as an index of CPR has been proposed as a reliable and more readily available approach. Recent findings suggest the use of resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) which requires minimum patient compliance. The aim of this study was to compare rs-fMRI to bh-fMRI and [O-15]water PET in patients with MMA. Methods Patients with MMA underwent rs-fMRI and bh-fMRI in the same MRI session. Maps of the CVR gained by both modalities were compared retrospectively by calculating the correlation between the mean CVR of 12 volumes of interest. Additionally, the rs-maps of a subgroup of patients were compared to CPR-maps gained by [O-15]water PET. Results The comparison of the rs-maps and the bh-maps of 24 patients revealed a good correlation (Pearson's r = 0.71 +/- 0.13; preoperative patients: Pearson's r = 0.71 +/- 0.17; postoperative patients: Pearson's r = 0.71 +/- 0.11). The comparison of 7 rs-fMRI data sets to the corresponding [O-15]water PET data sets also revealed a high level of agreement (Pearson's r = 0.80 +/- 0.19). Conclusion The present analysis indicates that rs-fMRI might be a promising non-invasive method with almost no patient cooperation needed to evaluate the CVR. Further prospective studies are required.