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MRI contrast accumulation in features of cerebral small vessel disease: blood-brain barrier dysfunction or elevated vascular density?
Tomas P. Vikner, Anders Garpebring, Cecilia Björnfot, Jan Malm, Anders Eklund, Anders Wåhlin. Fluids and Barriers of the CNS, 2025-07-16
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
), whereas the effect of region was only borderline-significant when comparing NAWM, WML peripheries and WML (p = 0.03) and non-significant for the other comparisons (p > 0.29). Our findings support the notion that contrast leakage across the BBB accumulates within and in proximity of SVD-related lesions. However, high contrast accumulation may mainly reflect high vascularization, and to a lesser degree than previously recognized BBB dysfunction.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Vikner, T. P., Garpebring, A., Björnfot, C., Malm, J., Eklund, A., & Wåhlin, A. (2025). MRI contrast accumulation in features of cerebral small vessel disease: blood-brain barrier dysfunction or elevated vascular density? Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-025-00675-4
Vancouver
Vikner TP, Garpebring A, Björnfot C, Malm J, Eklund A, Wåhlin A. MRI contrast accumulation in features of cerebral small vessel disease: blood-brain barrier dysfunction or elevated vascular density? Fluids and Barriers of the CNS. 2025. doi:10.1186/s12987-025-00675-4. PMID: 40671018.
BibTeX
@article{vikner2025-40671018,
author = {Vikner, Tomas P. and Garpebring, Anders and Björnfot, Cecilia and Malm, Jan and Eklund, Anders and Wåhlin, Anders},
title = {{MRI contrast accumulation in features of cerebral small vessel disease: blood-brain barrier dysfunction or elevated vascular density?}},
journal = {Fluids and Barriers of the CNS},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s12987-025-00675-4},
pmid = {40671018},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-025-00675-4}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- ), whereas the effect of region was only borderline-significant when comparing NAWM, WML peripheries and WML (p = 0.03) and non-significant for the other comparisons (p > 0.29).
- Our findings support the notion that contrast leakage across the BBB accumulates within and in proximity of SVD-related lesions.
- However, high contrast accumulation may mainly reflect high vascularization, and to a lesser degree than previously recognized BBB dysfunction.
Why it matters
This study found that contrast leakage accumulated within and near small vessel disease lesions, but that high contrast accumulation may mainly reflect high vascularization rather than blood-brain barrier dysfunction to the degree previously thought. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Participants56
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Fluids and Barriers of the CNS) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Fluids and Barriers of the CNS: journal h-index 86 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 56 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Anders Wåhlin: h-index 39 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Wisconsin–Madison: institution h-index 1,518 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40671018) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s12987-025-00675-4
- PubMed: 40671018
- Original source →
- Free full text: Fluids and Barriers of the CNS →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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