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Diffusion Tensor–MRI Evidence for Extra-Axonal Neuronal Degeneration in Caudate and Thalamic Nuclei of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Diffusion Tensor–MRI Evidence for Extra-Axonal Neuronal Degeneration in Caudate and Thalamic... BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MS is an inflammatory demyelinating disease affecting both WM and GM. While WM lesions are easily visualized by conventional MR imaging, the detection of GM alterations remains challenging. This diffusion tensor MR imaging study aimed to detect and characterize diffuse microscopic alterations in 2 deep GM structures, the caudate nucleus and the thalamus, in patients with RR and SP MS. The relationship between diffusivity markers, and atrophy of the caudate and the thalamus, as well as brain lesion load and clinical status of the patients was also explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three RR and 18 SP patients, along with 27 healthy controls, underwent MR imaging examination including anatomic and DTI acquisitions. Volumes, mean FA, and MD of the caudate and the thalamus, as well as WM lesion volumes, were assessed. RESULTS: FA was significantly ( P < .001) increased in the caudate and the thalamus of patients with MS compared with controls, and was higher in SP compared with RR patients. Increased FA was associated with volume decreases of caudate ( r = −0.712; P < .001) and thalamus ( r = −0.407; P < .01) in patients with MS. WM T2 lesion load was significantly associated with caudate ( r = 0.611; P < .001) and thalamic ( r = 0.354; P < .05) FA. Caudate FA, and, to a lesser extent, thalamic FA, were associated with functional deficits, as measured by EDSS and MSFC. CONCLUSIONS: Increased FA in the caudate and the thalamus may constitute a sensitive marker of MS pathologic processes, such as loss of dendrites and/or swelling of neuronal cell bodies. ABBREVIATIONS DD disease duration EDSS Expanded Disability Status Scale FA fractional anisotropy FMRIB Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain GM gray matter ICV intracranial volume MD mean diffusivity MSFC Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite PD proton attenuation RR relapsing-remitting SP secondary-progressive T2-LL T2-lesion load http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Neuroradiology American Journal of Neuroradiology

Diffusion Tensor–MRI Evidence for Extra-Axonal Neuronal Degeneration in Caudate and Thalamic Nuclei of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

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References (38)

Publisher
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 by the American Society of Neuroradiology.
ISSN
0195-6108
eISSN
1936-959X
DOI
10.3174/ajnr.A2983
pmid
22383236
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MS is an inflammatory demyelinating disease affecting both WM and GM. While WM lesions are easily visualized by conventional MR imaging, the detection of GM alterations remains challenging. This diffusion tensor MR imaging study aimed to detect and characterize diffuse microscopic alterations in 2 deep GM structures, the caudate nucleus and the thalamus, in patients with RR and SP MS. The relationship between diffusivity markers, and atrophy of the caudate and the thalamus, as well as brain lesion load and clinical status of the patients was also explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three RR and 18 SP patients, along with 27 healthy controls, underwent MR imaging examination including anatomic and DTI acquisitions. Volumes, mean FA, and MD of the caudate and the thalamus, as well as WM lesion volumes, were assessed. RESULTS: FA was significantly ( P < .001) increased in the caudate and the thalamus of patients with MS compared with controls, and was higher in SP compared with RR patients. Increased FA was associated with volume decreases of caudate ( r = −0.712; P < .001) and thalamus ( r = −0.407; P < .01) in patients with MS. WM T2 lesion load was significantly associated with caudate ( r = 0.611; P < .001) and thalamic ( r = 0.354; P < .05) FA. Caudate FA, and, to a lesser extent, thalamic FA, were associated with functional deficits, as measured by EDSS and MSFC. CONCLUSIONS: Increased FA in the caudate and the thalamus may constitute a sensitive marker of MS pathologic processes, such as loss of dendrites and/or swelling of neuronal cell bodies. ABBREVIATIONS DD disease duration EDSS Expanded Disability Status Scale FA fractional anisotropy FMRIB Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain GM gray matter ICV intracranial volume MD mean diffusivity MSFC Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite PD proton attenuation RR relapsing-remitting SP secondary-progressive T2-LL T2-lesion load

Journal

American Journal of NeuroradiologyAmerican Journal of Neuroradiology

Published: Aug 1, 2012

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