Abstract

Background: Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) technique could not only quantify blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown leading to macular edema associated with diabetes, but also provide a two-dimensional imaging method that is not interfered by refracting media.

Objective: The current study was aimed to evaluate the macular change in the patients with diabetic retinopathy using DCE-MRI technique.

Methods: Twenty patients with Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and 20 Normal Controls (NC) were included. The fast spoiled gradient echo sequence was used to perform dynamic contrast T1WI enhancement on 3.0T MR system. The macular region, optic papila and nasal retina were performed with quantitative DCE-MRI evaluation using Omni-Kinetics software.

Results: The maximal concentration, the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC_{concentration-time}) and maximal slope of macular region were significantly higher in DR [0.270(0.03,1.20)mmol/ 100ml, 2.71(0.04,9.91) mmol*min and 0.38(0.06,3.18) mmol/min, respectively] than that [0.169(0.03,0.72) mmol/1.25(0.13,10.41) mmol*min and 0.245(0.06,1.34) mmol/min] in NC (U value = 515.00 and P value = 0.080, U value = 433.00 and P value = 0.000, and U value = 563.00 and P value = 0.023, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis demonstrated that the area under AUC_{concentration-time} was 0.729±0.058 with the cut-off value 1.479 mmol*min (sensitivity 80.00% and specificity 62.50%) for macular region.

Conclusion: The quantitative DCE-MRI technique could be used to evaluate the maculopathy associated with diabetic retinopathy.

Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy, magnetic resonance imaging, macula lutea retinae, optic papilla, BRB, neonatal control.