Volume of parasagittal dura is associated with blood markers of systemic inflammation

Acta Neurochirurgica (2025) 167:255

Higher blood C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, is significantly correlated with lower volume of the parasagittal dura (PSD). This suggests PSD volume may serve as a potential imaging marker of systemic inflammation. No significant association was found between PSD volume and subjective sleep quality.

• The study investigated the relationship between the volume of the parasagittal dura (PSD) and blood markers of systemic inflammation, mainly C-reactive protein (CRP).

• 76 patients underwent intrathecal contrast-enhanced MRI to measure PSD volume and CSF clearance, alongside blood tests for inflammatory markers.

• Higher CRP levels were significantly correlated with lower PSD volume, suggesting an association between systemic inflammation and PSD morphology.

• This inverse relationship was significant even after adjusting for confounders such as age, sex, and diagnosis.

• Other blood markers (hemoglobin, erythrocyte volume fraction) showed initial correlations with PSD volume, but these were not significant after accounting for confounders.

• Impaired sleep quality was associated with higher CRP but not with PSD volume.

• The findings suggest PSD volume may serve as a potential imaging marker of systemic inflammation, but causality remains unclear.

• Further research is needed to clarify mechanisms and clinical implications of the PSD-inflammation link.