Cerebral White Matter Lesions on Diffusion-Weighted Images and Delayed Neurological Sequelae after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning = Cerebral White Matter Lesions on Diffusion-Weighted Images and Delayed Neurological Sequelae after Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Introduction
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can result in delayed neurological sequelae (DNS). This study aims to determine whether acute brain lesions observed using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following acute CO poisoning are related to the subsequent development of DNS.
Material & Method
This prospective study was conducted on patients with CO poisoning treated at a university hospital in Bucheon, Korea. From August 2016 to July 2019, a total of 283 patients visited the hospital because of CO poisoning. Exclusion criteria included age under 18 years, refusing hyperbaric oxygen therapy, refusing MRI, being discharged against medical advice, being lost to follow-up, having persistent neurological symptoms at discharge, and being transferred from another hospital 24 h after exposure.
Result
Of the 154 patients included in the final study, acute brain lesions on MRI (ABLM) were observed in 49 patients (31.8%) and DNS occurred in 30 patients (19.5%). In a logistic regression analysis, lower Glasgow coma scale score and higher exposure time were associated with DNS, and the presence of ABLM in white matter was significantly associated with DNS (OR 6.741; p = 0.004).
Conclusion
The presence of ABLM in white matter was significantly related to the occurrence of DNS. Early prediction of the risk of developing DNS through MRI may be helpful in treating patients with CO poisoning.