Association of Brain Iron Overload With Brain Edema and Brain Atrophy After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Objective: This study evaluated iron overload after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) using ESWAN sequences. Methods: This single-center prospective observational cohort study enrolled supratentorial ICH patients. MRI was obtained with a 3.0-T scanner at day 1, day 14, day 30, and follow-up (300 days or later). R2* mapping was generated based on the ESWAN. R2* value of the ipsilateral side represented iron deposition, and the R2* value of the contralateral side served as control. R2* value was adjusted by volume and used to assess total iron overload. Brain edema was measured on T2 FLAIR-weighted images. Brain atrophy was calculated as the contralateral hemisphere volume minus the injured hemisphere volume. Results: Twnety-seven patients with a spontaneous supratentorial ICH were included in this analysis. The ipsilateral R2* value was 40.27 +/- 11.62, 41.92 +/- 13.56, and 60.89 +/- 14.09 at days 1, 14, and 30, respectively. The R2* value was significantly higher in the ICH side than the contralateral side (p < 0.01). Increased R2* value was seen on day 30 compared to day 14 (p < 0.01). The R2* value showed logistic decay with the distance to the hematoma margin (p < 0.01). Brain edema at day 14 and brain atrophy at follow-up correlated with R2* value adjusted by volume at day 14 (p < 0.01). Conclusions: After ICH, the iron deposition in the perihematomal region was progressively increased during the first month. R2* value adjusted by volume predicted acute brain edema and chronic brain atrophy.