Cambridge 7 Tesla Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Study

Imaging the Arterial Pathology in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Using 7 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging

CamSVD is jointly sponsored by the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

We aim to explore and understand the underlying arterial pathology in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (SVD) using ultra-high-field 7 Tesla MRI. We will optimise 7T Time-of-Flight MR angiography, blood suppressed MR sequence and phase-contrast (PC) MR angiography for visualization of perforating lenticulostriate arteries. This optimised sequences will be used to determine the range of arterial pathologies seen in individuals presenting with lacunar strokes. The pathologies of the perforating lenticulostriate arteries will be correlated with conventional clinical risk factors, cognition and radiological markers of SVD.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Symptomatic lacunar stroke with corresponding lacunar infarct on MRI

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unable/unwilling to consent;
2. Age<18;
3. Stroke aetiology due to cardio-embolism or large vessel disease;
4. Lacunar infarcts >1.5cm;
5. Severe stroke (NIHSS score ≥16);
6. Evidence of cortical infarct of any size;
7. Other major neurological diseases;
8. Severe systemic diseases such as heart failure, liver failure and kidney failure or any illness in the judgement of the investigator that could affect participation in the study;
9. MRI contraindications e.g. metal objects in or on the body, claustrophobia, pregnancy, known allergy to gadolinium containing contrast agent, impaired renal function with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <59ml/min/1.73m2.