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Open Access 01-02-2022 | Original Article

Reproducibility of diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) for evaluating interstitial fluid diffusivity and glymphatic function: CHanges in Alps index on Multiple conditiON acquIsition eXperiment (CHAMONIX) study

Authors: Toshiaki Taoka, Rintaro Ito, Rei Nakamichi, Koji Kamagata, Mayuko Sakai, Hisashi Kawai, Toshiki Nakane, Takashi Abe, Kazushige Ichikawa, Junko Kikuta, Shigeki Aoki, Shinji Naganawa

Published in: Japanese Journal of Radiology | Issue 2/2022

Abstract

Purpose

The diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) method was developed to evaluate the brain’s glymphatic function or interstitial fluid dynamics. This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of the DTI-ALPS method and the effect of modifications in the imaging method and data evaluation.

Materials and methods

Seven healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Image acquisition was performed for this test–retest study using a fixed imaging sequence and modified imaging methods which included the placement of region of interest (ROI), imaging plane, head position, averaging, number of motion-proving gradients, echo time (TE), and a different scanner. The ALPS-index values were evaluated for the change of conditions listed above.

Results

This test–retest study by a fixed imaging sequence showed very high reproducibility (intraclass coefficient = 0.828) for the ALPS-index value. The bilateral ROI placement showed higher reproducibility. The number of averaging and the difference of the scanner did not influence the ALPS-index values. However, modification of the imaging plane and head position impaired reproducibility, and the number of motion-proving gradients affected the ALPS-index value. The ALPS-index values from 12-axis DTI and 3-axis diffusion-weighted image (DWI) showed good correlation (r = 0.86). Also, a shorter TE resulted in a larger value of the ALPS-index.

Conclusion

ALPS index was robust under the fixed imaging method even when different scanners were used. ALPS index was influenced by the imaging plane, the number of motion-proving gradient axes, and TE in the imaging sequence. These factors should be uniformed in the planning ALPS method studies. The possibility to develop a 3-axis DWI-ALPS method using three axes of the motion-proving gradient was also suggested.

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Title: Reproducibility of diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) for evaluating interstitial fluid diffusivity and glymphatic function: CHanges in Alps index on Multiple conditiON acquIsition eXperiment (CHAMONIX) study
Authors: Toshiaki Taoka
Rintaro Ito
Rei Nakamichi
Koji Kamagata
Mayuko Sakai
Hisashi Kawai
Toshiki Nakane
Takashi Abe
Kazushige Ichikawa
Junko Kikuta
Shigeki Aoki
Shinji Naganawa
Publication date: 01-02-2022
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Published in: Japanese Journal of Radiology / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 1867-1071
Electronic ISSN: 1867-108X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-021-01187-5

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Reproducibility of diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) for evaluating interstitial fluid diffusivity and glymphatic function: CHanges in Alps index on Multiple conditiON acquIsition eXperiment (CHAMONIX) study

Abstract

Purpose

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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Abstract

Purpose

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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