Abstract
Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVs) can be seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in various neurological diseases, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). EPVs have been associated with cognitive dysfunction and sleep disturbances; however, their clinical significance remains unclear. The goal of this study was to identify MRI burden of EPVs over time following TBI and to explore their relationship with postinjury outcomes. Individuals with TBI underwent postinjury data collection at Day 1 (blood), 2 weeks (blood, MRI, outcomes), and 6 months (blood, MRI, outcomes). EPV burden was assessed using T1 and FLAIR sequences on representative slices in the centrum semiovale, basal ganglia, and midbrain. Serum blood was assayed to measure concentrations of neurofilament light (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Thirty-two participants with TBI were included (mean age 36.8 years, 78% male, 50% White). Total EPVs count did not significantly change from 2 weeks (23.5 [95% confidence interval or CI = 22.0–32.0]) to 6 months (26.0 [95% CI = 22.0–30.0], p = 0.16). For self-reported measures of sleep, there were no significant associations between EPVs count and Insomnia Severity Index (2 weeks: β = −0.004; 95% CI = −0.094, 0.086; 6 months: β = 0.002; 95% CI = −0.122, 0.125) or the subset of sleep questions on the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (2 weeks: β = −0.005; 95% CI = −0.049, 0.039; 6 months: β = −0.019; 95% CI = −0.079, 0.042). Functional outcome, determined by 6 months incomplete recovery (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended [GOS-E < 8]) versus complete recovery (GOS-E = 8), was significantly associated with a higher number of EPVs at 2 weeks (odds ratio = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.88–0.99). Spearman correlations showed no significant relationship between EPVs count and GFAP or NfL. This study used commonly acquired MRI sequences to quantify EPVs and investigated their utility as a potential imaging biomarker in TBI. Given the minimal change in EPVs over time, this period may not be long enough for potential recovery or may indicate that EPVs are structural findings that do not significantly change over time.
Introduction
Perivascular spaces, also known as Virchow–Robin spaces, 1 are fluid-filled regions surrounding brain arterioles, venules, and capillaries. These spaces are thought to be involved in maintaining brain homeostasis and facilitating the removal of metabolites from the brain interstitial fluid, particularly during sleep.2,3 These spaces can become enlarged (enlarged perivascular spaces; EPVs), a finding of unclear significance that has long been appreciated on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. However, recent work has linked EPVs to aging,4,5 cognitive impairment, 6 Parkinson’s disease, 7 multiple sclerosis, 8 Alzheimer’s disease, 9 and stroke.10,11
Although the presence of EPVs is common among individuals with neurological diseases, the role that they play in the pathophysiology of these various central nervous system disorders is still uncertain. Hypotheses include that EPVs represent impaired interstitial fluid drainage or glymphatic system dysregulation, although strong supportive evidence is lacking.12,13 Glymphatic dysregulation has also been shown to be disrupted after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may be linked with postinjury sleep deficits.13,14 Studies have shown greater EPVs burden in TBI.12,15,16 However, findings with sleep have been mixed with some studies showing that increased EPVs burden is associated with sleep deficits12,15 and others showing no relationship. 16
There is much still not understood about EPVs in TBI, including their evolution over time postinjury or their link to other markers of injury, including blood-based biomarkers. Currently, there is limited ability to categorize TBI as well as predict long-term outcomes postinjury. However, blood-based biomarkers have been offering promise as both diagnostic and prognostic tools. Given the potential relationship between EPVs, sleep, and the glymphatic system, it is possible that blood-based biomarkers may provide additional insights into the underlying pathology given the role of the glymphatic system in transporting these biomarkers. 17 Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in particular, has been hypothesized to be an indicator of glymphatic dysfunction given the role of astrocytes in the neurovascular unit, 18 as well as its drainage via interstitial space to the blood by the glymphatic system. 17
Therefore, the overall goal of this study was to use a previously validated technique5,19 to evaluate the presence of EPVs in individuals who had sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Objectives of this study were to (1) identify the MRI burden of EPVs over time following TBI from 2 weeks to 6 months postinjury, (2) identify the relationship between EPVs and postinjury sleep-related outcomes, (3) explore the relationship between EPVs and functional outcome and measures of self-reported symptomatology, and (4) identify the relationship between EPVs and blood-based biomarkers.
Methods
Participants
Participants were enrolled in an observational cohort study that included individuals with mild-to-severe head injuries. Included participants were 18–65 years old with a TBI diagnosis who were enrolled within 72 h of arriving at the University of Pennsylvania’s Level I Trauma Center. Inclusion criteria also included a clinical diagnosis of TBI, based on the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine criteria, 20 and the ability to undergo an MRI. Participants were excluded based on (a) history of disabling preexisting neurological disease, (b) history of premorbid debilitating condition that interfered with outcome assessments, (c) bilaterally absent pupillary responses, (d) penetrating TBI, (e) requirement of craniotomy or craniectomy, (f) midline shift >3 mm at the level of septum pellucidum or any focal or high-density lesion >10 mL in volume, (g) elevated intracranial pressure, (h) history of prior hospitalization for TBI >1 day, (i) contraindication to MRI, (j) prisoners or patients in police custody, or (k) pregnancy. After eligibility was determined, competence to provide consent was assessed through the Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test (GOAT). 21 A GOAT score of ≥75 was considered competent, and consent was obtained from the patient. If the patient scored <75, or was unable to participate in the GOAT assessment, consent was obtained from a legal authorized representative. All study procedures were approved by the University of Pennsylvania’s Institutional Review Board and were done in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Study timepoints
Demographic, medical history, injury characteristics, and a blood draw were collected at the time of enrollment. Once screening and eligibility were assessed, participants underwent a battery of testing, including MRI scans, a blood draw, and outcome measures completed at 2 weeks and 6 months postinjury. Only participants with paired MRI at 2 weeks and 6 months postinjury were included in analyses.
MRI scans
All scans were run on a 3T Siemens PrismaFit (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) using a 32-channel head coil. Identical imaging protocols were obtained at 2 weeks and 6 months postinjury and included the following: T1 MPRAGE (acquisition time (TA) = 5:12, resolution = 1.0 × 1.0 × 1.0 mm, repetition time (TR) = 2300 ms, echo time (TE) = 2.94 ms, flip angle = 9°, slices = 208); FLAIR 3D T2 Turbo (TA = 6:44, resolution = 0.5 × 0.5 × 1.2 mm, TR = 6000 ms, TE = 390 ms, slices = 176).
EPVs categorization
EPV burden was characterized using the T1 and FLAIR sequences as previously validated. 19 Hypointense EPVs (<3 mm) were counted from representative slices in the centrum semiovale (CSO), basal ganglia, and midbrain (Fig. 1) based on the guide developed by Potter, Morris, and Wardlow. 5 EPV counts were classified as a continuous variable (total number of hypointense lesions) and a categorical variable. For the midbrain, categories were 0 (no visible EPVs) or 1 (visible EPVs). For the basal ganglia and CSO, categories were 0 (no visible EPVs), 1 (1–10 EPVs), 2 (11–20 EPVs), 3 (21–40 EPVs), or 4 (>40 EPVs). 5 Each scan was independently scored by two board certified neurologists (J.Y., K.S., and D.K.S.) who were blinded to ID and timepoint. If there was a disagreement in the assigned category between raters, the scan was reviewed, and a final score was decided by consensus approach. The interrater reliability for continuous data was intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.744 and for categorical data was kappa = 0.349, which is consistent with other studies using similar methods. 22

Representative slices for 3 areas of interest: centrum semiovale (left), basal ganglia (middle), and midbrain (right). Example of hypointense EPVs indicated by a white arrow. EPVs, enlarged perivascular spaces.
Blood biomarkers
Whole blood (15 mL) was collected and processed into serum aliquots by trained clinical staff on day of enrollment (Day 1), 2 weeks postinjury, and 6 months postinjury. The Quanterix Simoa HD-X platform (Quanterix Corporation, Lexington, MA) was used to determine concentrations of neurofilament light (NfL) and GFAP using the Neurology 4-Plex B kit (Quanterix Corporation).
Outcome measures
A battery of outcome assessments were administered at 2 weeks and 6 months postinjury to assess different domains, including functional status (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended [GOS-E]),23,24 self-reported symptomology (Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire [RPQ], 25 Brief Symptom Inventory [BSI-18], 26 Satisfaction with Life Survey [SWLS] 27 ) and sleep [Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) 28 and sleep subquestions of the RPQ).
Statistical analysis
All statistical analyses were completed using STATA SE Version 16 (College Station, TX), and significance was set a priori as a two-sided p < 0.05. Examination of variable distribution for normality was conducted prior to statistical analysis choice. Biomarker measurements were natural log (ln2) transformed for analyses. GOS-E scores were dichotomized into complete (GOS-E = 8) versus incomplete (GOS-E < 8) recovery groups for analyses. To assess change over time in both EPVs and in biomarker levels, Wilcoxon signed-rank test was run. To assess the association of EPVs and outcomes, either linear (BSI-18, ISI, RPQ) or logistic (GOS-E) unadjusted regressions were performed, and correction for multiple comparisons was applied (Bonferroni, p < 0.003). We additionally examined the relationship between EPVs and biomarker levels using Spearman’s correlations.
Results
A total of 32 participants with TBI were included in analyses, and demographic information is presented in Table 1. The total number of EPVs (count) at 2 weeks did not differ by the demographic variables of age, sex, head computed tomography status (normal or abnormal), and vascular risk factors (history of diabetes, hypertension, or smoking; Table 2).
Demographic Information for Individuals with TBI (N = 32)
CT, computed tomography; TBI, traumatic brain injury; SD, standard deviation.
EPVs Count Among Different Demographic Factors
CT, computed tomography; EPVs, enlarged perivascular spaces.
EPVs count did not significantly change from the 2-week scan (median 23.5 [95% confidence interval or CI = 22.0–32.0]) to the 6-month scan (median 26.0 [95% CI = 22.0–30.0]; p = 0.16; Fig. 2A). On an individual level, there was no clear pattern in change over time with some individuals increasing in EPVs and some decreasing (Fig. 2B). When examining each slice, categories of EPVs for midbrain (Fig. 3A), basal ganglia (Fig. 3B), and CSO (Fig. 3C) did not significantly change over time.

Change over time in EPVs from 2 weeks to 6 months:

Distribution of category ratings at 2 weeks and 6 months:
For self-reported measures of sleep, linear regressions revealed no significant associations between EPVs count and ISI or the subset of sleep questions on the RPQ (Table 3). For other self-reported symptom measures, there was a significant association for EPVs count at 2 weeks and SWLS total score at 2 weeks (β = −0.11, 95% CI = −0.18, −0.04). There was also a significant association between EPVs count at 6 months and RPQ total score measured at 6 months (β = −0.39, 95% CI = −0.66, −0.12; Table 3). The burden of basal ganglia EPVs by category (0–4) at 2 weeks and 6 months was also significantly associated with SWLS total score measured at the same timepoint (2 weeks: β = −3.93, 95% CI = −7.51, −0.35; 6 months: β = −4.92, 95% CI = −9.29, −0.54).
Linear Regression Results for Association Between EPVs Count and Symptomatology Outcomes
Bolded p < 0.05, uncorrected.
p < 0.003, with Bonferroni correction.
BSI-18, Brief Symptom Inventory; CI, confidence interval; EPVs, enlarged perivascular spaces; ISI, insomnia severity index; RPQ, Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire; SWLS, Satisfaction with Life Survey.
Using logistic regression models, a higher number of total EPVs at 2 weeks were significantly associated with incomplete recovery at 6 months (GOS-E < 8) versus complete recovery (GOS-E = 8; odds ratio [OR] = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.88–0.99). There was no association between total EPVs count measured at 6 months and GOS-E measured at 6 months (GOS-E < 8 vs. GOS-E = 8; OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.90–1.0). By individual slice, there was a significant association with 2 weeks CSO category (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.10–0.87) with GOS-E incomplete versus complete recovery where those in the lower categories of EPVs in the CSO were less likely to have complete recovery at 6 months. There were no significant associations with 2 weeks basal ganglia (OR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.10–2.53) or midbrain (OR = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.08–12.56) EPVs with recovery measured using the GOS-E.
Levels of circulating biomarkers GFAP and NfL were examined on Day 1, 2 weeks, and 6 months postinjury (Fig. 4). GFAP was highest on Day 1 postinjury and significantly decreased by 2 weeks and 6 months, whereas NfL peaked at 2 weeks postinjury. Spearman correlations showed no significant relationship between EPVs count and GFAP (Fig. 5A) or NfL (Fig. 5B) at any timepoint.

Natural log transformed median levels of GFAP (left) and NfL (right) across timepoints. * indicates p < 0.05 by Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared with Day 1. GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein; NfL, neurofilament light.

Spearman correlation matrices for EPVs count and GFAP
Discussion
In this study, we examined the MRI burden on EPVs over time following TBI and their relationship with postinjury sleep, functional, and symptom-related outcomes. Results from this study demonstrated no change in EPVs from 2 weeks to 6 months post-TBI. This overall stability results from some individuals with increasing in EPVs, some decreasing, and most remaining relatively stable. This 6-month period of time may not be long enough for potential recovery of EPVs, or it may indicate that EPVs are permanent structural findings that do not change over time. In addition, with no MRI imaging done before TBI, we cannot determine if TBI causes EPVs or if EPVs existed prior to the injury occurring. Several other studies within a similar timeframe following TBI have shown variable ability to detect changes using different imaging modalities.29–32 Future work should aim at expanding the timescale and incorporating multimodal image analysis postinjury to develop a more comprehensive understanding of changes in brain structure and function following TBI.
EPVs in our cohort were heavily localized to the CSO. Many tracts run through the CSO, including the projection, commissural, and association fibers, which have implications in sensory-motor functioning. 33 Anatomically, the CSO is adjacent to the corpus callosum, which is one of the most commonly affected brain regions in TBI as shown by advanced MRI studies. 34 The high concentration of EPVs within the CSO is consistent with global and nonspecific white matter damage seen after TBI. Studies also hypothesize that EPVs in the CSO may be associated with vascular dysfunction, 35 another mechanism implicated in the pathobiology of TBI, but the exact pathological correlate of EPVs remains unclear.
There was a lack of relationship between EPVs and postinjury sleep-related outcomes and measures of self-reported symptomatology in this cohort. Given that TBI is highly heterogeneous, it is not uncommon to have mixed findings when examining imaging findings with cognitive and functional outcomes. Other imaging studies, using structural or diffusion tensor imaging sequences, have also reported mixed results linking imaging metrics to outcomes.30,36–38 Studies linking EPVs with sleep metrics in TBI have used polysomnography 12 and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Inventory. 15 These studies were conducted in military populations who had sustained their TBI(s) years before study enrollment. Military veterans are more likely to sustain recurrent and blast-related head traumas than our civilian population, which may contribute to our different results. Our study was limited by the use of self-reported sleep measures, which may not be sensitive enough to detect changes that correspond to EPV burden. More rigorous and objective sleep measures may be necessary to better evaluate dysfunctional sleep patterns following TBI.
Of the measures of self-reported symptomatology used in this study, there was minimal relationship with EPVs after correction for multiple comparisons. Only the functional outcome measure GOS-E at 6 months was significantly associated with EPVs in our cohort. GOS-E is reflective of a more global outcome after injury and does not reveal nuanced information about postinjury deficits. This relationship should be further studied as assessing EPVs on MRI is more clinically accessible (given the frequency and standard nature in which structural sequences are collected) than other more advanced MRI sequences of white matter damage, such as diffusion tensor imaging. If the relationship between EPVs and GOS-E (incomplete versus complete recovery) is confirmed in a larger study, these findings may offer clinical utility in identifying individuals likely to have an incomplete recovery earlier in their recovery period. This information would be helpful for optimizing enrollment in future therapeutic trials to those more likely to have incomplete recovery following TBI.
There was no relationship between protein brain injury biomarkers measured in the blood and EPVs in this cohort. NfL is thought to be a marker of axonal damage, whereas GFAP is an astroglia marker present in both gray and white matter. 39 Typically, after mild TBI GFAP peaks early (Day 1) and decreases over time postinjury, whereas NfL peaks around 2 weeks; 40 findings which are consistent with the data from our cohort. It has been suggested that GFAP, among other biomarkers, exits the brain via the glymphatic system after damage. 17 However, other work indicates that these biomarkers enter the brain through blood–brain barrier openings.41–43 As such, we hypothesized that GFAP would be associated with EPVs burden; however, our data do not show a correlation between GFAP measured in the peripheral blood and the number of EPVs detected on MRI. This may be due to the way GFAP circulates in brain and is released from glial injury at the time of insult, as well as the timing of the measurements postinjury.
We used 3T MRI sequences to quantify EPVs after TBI. Although T2 sequences have been considered the gold standard, 5 results from this study confirm that the method adapted for T1 and FLAIR sequences by Schwartz and colleagues 44 is feasible in individuals with TBI. This could allow for quantification of EPVs burden across different neurological diseases and MRI sequences collected in both clinical and research settings where T2 sequences may be unavailable or not routinely collected, further informing future studies using data repositories from ongoing observational trials to examine these relationships in larger, longitudinally assessed cohorts.
This study is limited by a small sample size and limited timepoints following injury. In addition, our measures of sleep were based on self-report survey measures, which may not identify all sleep disturbances related to TBI. Future work should aim to examine EPVs in larger samples across longer follow-up postinjury, as well as investigating associations of EPVs burden with other MRI metrics of white matter damage, such as DTI metrics of fractional anisotropy or mean diffusivity. In addition, given the interrater reliability values here, automated methods of EPVs detection 45 may be useful for increasing clinical utility and improving precision of EPVs detection. In addition, it is important to note that while the categorical rating method used here is standard in the literature, it draws from other neurological disease states and may not be most appropriate for use in TBI. Cohort studies with serial neuroimaging and phenotyping, along with newer automated imaging methodologies, could be combined and analyzed to better examine EPVs after TBI and their involvement in patterns of recovery.
Conclusions
This study used 3T MRI sequences to examine the relationship between EPVs and TBI outcomes over 6 months of follow-up. Overall findings revealed that EPVs burden does not change over time after TBI. Higher EPVs at 2 weeks after injury were associated with incomplete recovery at 6 months using a global recovery measure. Further work should continue to investigate the significance of EPVs after TBI to gain better insights into whether this common radiological finding can be used as an imaging biomarker and how EPVs relate to both the underlying pathology, as well as the role in symptomology and clinical recovery following TBI.
Transparency, Rigor, and Reproducibility Statement
This analysis plan was not formally preregistered. The first and senior author confirms that the analysis plan was prespecified. This is a secondary analysis of a larger study where only individuals with paired MRI at 2 weeks and 6 months postinjury were included resulting in 32 individuals being included. Participants were told results of clinically significant imaging findings. Clinical outcomes were assessed by team members blinded to imaging results. Analysis of imaging data was independently scored by board certified neurologists who were blinded to participant and timepoint. If there was a disagreement in the assigned category between raters, the scan was reviewed, and a final score was decided by consensus approach. MRI data were acquired on a 3T Siemens PrismaFit using a 32-channel head coil, and all data were acquired on the same scanner. Board certified neurologists performed the reads of the MRIs. The key inclusion criteria and outcome evaluations are established clinical standards. Corrections for multiple comparison were done using Bonferroni correction. No replication or external validation studies have been performed or are planned/ongoing at this time to our knowledge. The data are available from the senior author upon reasonable request. There is no MRI analytic code associated with this study. Upon publication, this article will be available in the Neurotrauma Reports.
Compliance with Ethical Standards
All procedures involving human participants were done in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution and with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in this study.
Footnotes
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the research participants for their time and efforts to this study. In addition, they thank the MRI technicians at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for their assistance, the clinical research coordinators who helped with study procedures (Nathan Smyk, My Duyen Le, and Hannah Zamore), and Cillian Lynch for assistance with blood assays.
Authors’ Contributions
Project conceptualization: A.E.W., K.S., J.Y., and D.K.S. Method development: A.E.W., K.S., J.Y., and D.K.S. Data collection and analysis: A.E.W., J.M., and A.L.C.S. Article preparation and editing: A.E.W., K.S., J.Y., J.M., A.L.C.S., R.D.-A., and D.K.S.
Author Disclosure Statement
J.Y. reports being an associate editor at Aquifer outside of this work. A.L.C.S. reports being an associate editor at Neurology outside of this work. Other authors report no conflicts of interest related to this work.
Funding Information
A.E.W. reports funding from the National Institutes of Health–National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH-NINDS; 5T32NS043126). A.L.C.S. reports funding from NIH-NINDS (K23NS123340). D.K.S. reports funding from NIH-NINDS (K23NS104239). D.K.S. and R.D.-A. report funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (Award #4100077083). R.D.-A. reports funding from NIH (U01NS114140, R01NS125408, R33MH118170).
