Microvascular and large vein abnormalities in young patients after mild head trauma and associated fatigue: A brain SPECT evaluation and posture dependence modeling

This work supports an oxidative stress and BBB disruption model for mTBI. The frontal and temporal lobe perfusion deficits are attributed to anatomical vulnerabilities of these lobes. During a mild TBI both of these lobes are susceptible to grazing impacts with underlying bony ridges. We propose a relation between mTBI and fatigue arising from oxidative stress in mTBI affecting ATP generation and altering endothelial homeostasis for both micro-and-large vasculatures. The tracer leakage observed around jugular veins is due to posture induced changes in venous cross-sections and wall pressure as well as from compromised endothelium post TBI induced oxidative stress.