Magnetic resonance enterography perfusion parameters reveal complex changes in affected and unaffected segments in Crohn’s disease

Abstract

Objectives

To compare dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI parameters in affected and unaffected segments of CD patients with those of a control group, and to assess the correlation between DCE-MRI parameters and clinical index of activity (HBI) as well as biomarkers (CRP and faecal calprotectin).

Methods

We performed a single-center prospective study of CD patients and control subjects who underwent DCE-MRI. Regions of interest were drawn in segments and the program (Olea Medical – Canon) provided values for transfer constant (Ktrans), fractional volume of extravascular-extracellular space (Ve), slope of enhancement (SoE), time to maximum enhancement (TME), maximum enhancement (ME) and enhancement ratio (ER) which were determined and compared.

Results

Fifteen CD patients (mean age 42 years; 10 women) and 7 healthy subjects (mean age 40.4 years; 6 women) were included. Paired comparisons of affected and unaffected segments in CD showed a significant increase of all parameters in affected segments, except for ER and TME. When comparing to controls, the affected segments did not show any significant difference, while a significant decrease in most of the parameters (except for ER and TME) was observed when comparing unaffected segments of CD patients to controls. In CD, significant correlations between DCE-MRI parameters and biomarkers (CRP, faecal calprotectin) were more frequent in unaffected segments than in affected segments.

Conclusions

Significant differences in perfusion parameters were observed between affected and unaffected segments of CD patients and between unaffected segments and those of control subjects. This suggests complex perfusion changes in both unaffected and affected intestinal segments in CD.

Keywords:

• Crohn’s disease
• magnetic resonance enterography
• dynamic contrast-enhanced
• perfusion parameters
• control group

Acknowledgment

We thank Olea Medical for providing the program.

Author contributions

Caroline Coibion contributed to study design, collection and interpretation of data. Sophie Vieujean contributed to collection of clinical data and redaction of the manuscript. Laurence Seidel contributed to statistical analysis. Edouard Louis and Paul Meunier contributed to study design, collection, interpretation of data, critical revision, and approval of the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).