Elsevier

Seizure

Volume 78, May 2020, Pages 12-17
Seizure

Quantification of visible Virchow–Robin spaces for detecting the functional status of the glymphatic system in children with newly diagnosed idiopathic generalized epilepsy

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2020.02.015Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Highlights

  • Children with IGE have enlarged VRS, reflecting glymphatic system dysfunction.

  • VRS changes are related to seizure duration and disease course post-seizure onset.

  • Visible VRS quantitative MRI metrics contribute to monitoring glymphatic function.

Abstract

Purpose

The cerebral glymphatic system, particularly the Virchow–Robin Spaces (VRS), plays an important role in waste clearance from the brain. Idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) is a common epilepsy type associated with blood-brain-barrier dysfunction, abnormal exchange of cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid. These disorders may be reflected in the glymphatic system. Therefore, this study investigated the relationships between visible VRS on MRI and seizures, to detect changes in glymphatic function.

Methods

We retrospectively included 32 children with newly diagnosed IGE and 30 controls aged 3–13 years. Visible VRS were identified using a custom-designed automated method. VRS counts and volume were quantified and compared between children with IGE and controls. Meanwhile, Correlations of VRS counts and volume with seizure duration and course after seizure onset were respectively explored via Spearman’s coefficient (r).

Results

In this study, visible VRS counts were higher in IGE than control group (VRS_epilepsy, 234.34 ± 113.88 vs. VRS_control, 111.83 ± 52.46; P < 0.001), as similar results were found in VRS volume (VRS_epilepsy, 1377.47 ± 778.79 mm3 vs. VRS_control, 795.153 ± 452.49 mm3; P = 0.001). Visible VRS counts and volume positively correlated with seizure duration (r_counts = 0.638, r_volume = 0.639; P < 0.001) and gradually decreased with time after seizure onset (r_counts = −0.559, r_volume = −0.558; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Epileptic seizures can induce changes in VRS counts and volume, which were associated with seizure duration and post-onset course. Quantitative metrics of VRS visible on MRI might be potential biomarkers for monitoring glymphatic function.

Keywords

Child
Glymphatic system
Idiopathic generalized epilepsy
Magnetic resonance imaging
Virchow-Robin spaces

Cited by (0)

1

These authors contributed equally to this study.