BACKGROUND: Optic radiation (OR) damage occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of local and distant mechanisms associated with OR damage in MS. METHODS: Diffusion tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tractography probability maps of the ORs were derived from 102 MS patients and 11 controls. Between-group differences of OR normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) damage and topographical distribution of OR damage were assessed using quantitative and voxel-wise analyses, considering the influence of previous optic neuritis (ON+) and T2 OR lesions (T2 OR+). RESULTS: OR NAWM diffusivity abnormalities were more severe in ON+ patients vs patients without previous optic neuritis (ON-) and T2 OR+ vs T2 OR- patients. Damage to the anterior portions of the ORs was more severe in ON+ vs ON- patients. Compared to controls and T2 OR- patients, T2 OR+ patients experienced a more distributed pattern of DT MRI abnormalities along the ORs, with an increased axial diffusivity limited to the anterior portions of the ORs. In T2 OR+ group, ON+ vs ON- patients showed DT MRI abnormalities in the middle portion of the ORs, in correspondence with focal lesions. OR damage correlated with OR T2 lesion volume, visual dysfunction and optic nerve atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Both trans-synaptic degeneration secondary to optic nerve damage and Wallerian degeneration due to local T2 lesions contribute to OR damage in MS.
BACKGROUND: Optic radiation (OR) damage occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to explore the contribution of local and distant mechanisms associated with OR damage in MS. METHODS: Diffusion tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tractography probability maps of the ORs were derived from 102 MS patients and 11 controls. Between-group differences of OR normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) damage and topographical distribution of OR damage were assessed using quantitative and voxel-wise analyses, considering the influence of previous optic neuritis (ON+) and T2 OR lesions (T2 OR+). RESULTS: OR NAWM diffusivity abnormalities were more severe in ON+ patients vs patients without previous optic neuritis (ON-) and T2 OR+ vs T2 OR- patients. Damage to the anterior portions of the ORs was more severe in ON+ vs ON- patients. Compared to controls and T2 OR- patients, T2 OR+ patients experienced a more distributed pattern of DT MRI abnormalities along the ORs, with an increased axial diffusivity limited to the anterior portions of the ORs. In T2 OR+ group, ON+ vs ON- patients showed DT MRI abnormalities in the middle portion of the ORs, in correspondence with focal lesions. OR damage correlated with OR T2 lesion volume, visual dysfunction and optic nerve atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Both trans-synaptic degeneration secondary to optic nerve damage and Wallerian degeneration due to local T2 lesions contribute to OR damage in MS.
Authors: Carmen Tur; Olivia Goodkin; Daniel R Altmann; Thomas M Jenkins; Katherine Miszkiel; Alessia Mirigliani; Camilla Fini; Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott; Alan J Thompson; Olga Ciccarelli; Ahmed T Toosy Journal: Brain Date: 2016-02-17 Impact factor: 13.501
Authors: Athina Papadopoulou; Laura Gaetano; Armanda Pfister; Anna Altermatt; Charidimos Tsagkas; Felix Morency; Alexander U Brandt; Martin Hardmeier; Mallar M Chakravarty; Maxime Descoteaux; Ludwig Kappos; Till Sprenger; Stefano Magon Journal: Neurology Date: 2019-04-10 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Paolo Preziosa; Maria A Rocca; Elisabetta Pagani; Maria Laura Stromillo; Christian Enzinger; Antonio Gallo; Hanneke E Hulst; Matteo Atzori; Deborah Pareto; Gianna C Riccitelli; Massimiliano Copetti; Nicola De Stefano; Franz Fazekas; Alvino Bisecco; Frederik Barkhof; Tarek A Yousry; Maria J Arévalo; Massimo Filippi Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2016-02-02 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: Alexander Klistorner; Prima Sriram; Nikitha Vootakuru; Chenyu Wang; Michael H Barnett; Raymond Garrick; John Parratt; Netta Levin; Noa Raz; Anneke Van der Walt; Lynette Masters; Stuart L Graham; Con Yiannikas Journal: Neurology Date: 2014-05-16 Impact factor: 9.910