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. 2011 Nov;12(6):e344-9.
doi: 10.1097/PCC.0b013e3182196c9c.

Change in mean transit time, apparent diffusion coefficient, and cerebral blood volume during pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis treatment

Monica S Vavilala  1 , Ken I Marro, Todd L Richards, Joan S Roberts, Parichat Curry, Catherine Pihoker, Heidi Bradford, Dennis Shaw
Affiliations

Change in mean transit time, apparent diffusion coefficient, and cerebral blood volume during pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis treatment

Monica S Vavilala et al. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2011 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: Cerebral edema is a devastating complication of pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis. We examined measures describing potential causes of whole brain and regional brain edema (mean transit time, apparent diffusion coefficient, and relative cerebral blood volume) during treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in children.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Regional children's hospital.

Interventions: None.

Measurements and main results: After Institutional Review Board approval, children admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (pH <7.3, HCO3 <15 mEq/L, glucose >300 mg/dL, and ketosis) underwent two serial paired contrast-enhanced (gadolinium) and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging scans. Change in whole brain and regional (frontal lobe, occipital lobe, and basal ganglia) mean transit time, apparent diffusion coefficient, and relative cerebral blood volume between the two time periods (12-24 hrs) and (36-72 hrs) after start of insulin treatment (time 0) were determined. Thirteen children (median age, 10.3 ± 1.1 yrs; 7 female) with diabetic ketoacidosis were examined. Overall, whole brain and regional mean transit time decreased from time 1 (first magnetic resonance imaging after time 0) to time 2 (second magnetic resonance imaging after time 0) by 51% ± 59% (p = .01), without differences between the brain regions examined. Whole brain apparent diffusion coefficient increased by 4.7% ± 3.4% (p = .001), without differences between the brain regions examined. There was no change in relative cerebral blood volume for the whole brain and for the three brain regions examined.

Conclusions: In this study, whole brain mean transit time decreased and apparent diffusion coefficient increased, suggesting a vasogenic process between the two study periods during diabetic ketoacidosis treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Decrease in Whole Brain Mean Transit Time (MTT) between Time 1 (14–24 hours after insulin start) and Time 2 (40–58 hours after insulin start) in 11/13 patients. Overall, whole brain MTT reduced by 50% (p=0.01). Frontal lobe, occipital lobe and basal ganglia show similar changes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Increase in Whole Brain Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) between Time 1 (14–24 hours) vs. Time 2 (40–58 hours) after Insulin Start in 10/12 Subjects. Overall, whole brain ADC increased by 4.7% (p=0.001). Frontal lobe, occipital lobe and basal ganglia show similar changes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
No Overall Change in Relative Cerebral Blood Volume (relCBV) between Time 1 (12–24 Hours after Insulin start) and Time 2 (36–72 hours after insulin start) in 13 Subjects. Seven patients had increase in whole brain relCBV while 6 patients had decrease in whole brain relCBV. Overall, the 9.7% increase in relCBV was not significant (p = 0.37). Frontal lobe, occipital lobe and basal ganglia show similar changes.
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