Noninvasive Evaluation of Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration Using Amide Proton Transfer-weighted Imaging

Motivation: Protein concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is traditionally measured through lumbar puncture, an invasive procedure. Currently, no noninvasive imaging methods exist to evaluate protein levels in CSF. Goal(s): To explore the feasibility of using Amide Proton Transfer (APTw) imaging to assess protein concentration in CSF. Approach: The accuracy of measuring APT signal intensity (APTSI) in CSF was tested using custom phantoms and healthy volunteers. The APTSI of the CSF was compared to CSF protein concentrations measured via lumbar puncture in patients. Results: APTSI of CSF in the cerebral sulci demonstrated high reproducibility and was positively correlated with the measured protein concentrations. Impact: APTw imaging shows potential as a noninvasive tool to estimate protein concentration in CSF, offering a safer alternative to lumbar puncture for assessing CSF proteins.