Plasma water T2 detects age-stratified differences in cardiometabolic health among familial CCM patients with Hispanic CCM1 mutation

INTRODUCTION. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are abnormal clusters of capillaries in the nervous system. This pilot study analyzed the cardiometabolic health status of individuals with familial CCMs caused by a rare mutation in the CCM1 gene (fCCM1). The aim was to compare plasma water T(2) values from individuals with fCCM1 with values from metabolically unhealthy and healthy individuals with no known CCM mutations. DESIGN. This observational, cross-sectional study included 75 participants: 11 fCCM1 patients, 24 metabolically unhealthy and 40 metabolically healthy individuals. Plasma water T(2), an early, global and practical marker of cardiometabolic health, was measured in the time domain using benchtop magnetic resonance relaxometry. The results were stratified by age (equal to or less than 45 vs. older than 45 years). Group means were compared using Welch’s one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey-Kramer tests. Multivariable linear regression, with T(2) as the outcome variable, was used to explore associations with age, gender, Hispanic ethnicity and fCCM1 status. RESULTS. In the younger age stratum, the fCCM1 group had a mean plasma water T(2) value comparable to the metabolically healthy group (p=0.6388), but higher than the unhealthy group (p<0.0001). By contrast, in the older stratum, the mean plasma water T(2) value for the fCCM1 group was comparable to the metabolically unhealthy group (p=0.7819) and lower than the healthy group (p=0.0005). Multivariable linear regression revealed that age and the interaction between age and fCCM1 status were significant predictors of T(2), even after adjusting for gender and Hispanic ethnicity. CONCLUSION. Plasma water T(2) shows potential as a biomarker for assessing the health status of individuals with fCCM1. Further research is needed to validate these preliminary observations and elucidate the association between CCMs and cardiometabolic health.