Evaluation of MRI for in vivo monitoring of retinal damage and detachment in experimental ocular inflammation

• Published in: Magnetic resonance in medicine 2005-01, Vol.53 (1), p.61-68
• Main Authors: Pop-Fanea, Laura, Vallespin, Sonia Nielles, Hutchison, James M. S., Forrester, John V., Seton, Hugh C., Foster, Margaret A., Liversidge, Janet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autoimmune Diseases - complications; Autoimmune Diseases - immunology; Autoimmune Diseases - pathology; Female; inflammatory autoimmune eye disease; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; ocular MRI; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Retina - pathology; retinal detachment; Retinal Detachment - pathology; Retinal Diseases - pathology; surface coil; Uvea - pathology; Uveitis - complications; Uveitis - immunology; Uveitis - pathology
• ISSN: 0740-3194; 1522-2594
• DOI: 10.1002/mrm.20326

Two quantitative methods were developed for investigation of the potential of MRI for in vivo monitoring of retinal damage and detachment in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). Measurements of retinal thickness and detachment area were performed on matched MR and histologic (HIST) images of rat eyes at different stages of EAU. In vivo MR images of rat eyes were acquired at 4.7 T using a figure‐of‐eight surface coil and a spin echo pulse sequence. Ex vivo measurements were performed on HIST images acquired using a digital camera attached to a microscope. MR images mirrored the HIST appearance of inflamed eyes at each stage of disease. Retinal detachments as small as 0.1 mm2 were measured in vivo by MRI and confirmed in the same eye ex vivo by histology. Measurements performed on corresponding MR and HIST images demonstrated a good agreement between the two techniques. The potential of MRI for in vivo visualization and for monitoring changes in the eye during development of EAU was demonstrated in this study. Magn Reson Med 53:61–68, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.