Hans-Peter Müller1, Martin R Turner2, Julian Grosskreutz3, Sharon Abrahams4, Peter Bede5, Varan Govind6, Johannes Prudlo7, Albert C Ludolph1, Massimo Filippi8, Jan Kassubek1. 1. Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. 2. Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. 3. Hans-Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany. 4. Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology-PPLS & Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research & Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. 5. Quantitative Neuroimaging Group, Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. 6. Department of Radiology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA. 7. Department of Neurology, University of Rostock and DZNE, Rostock, Germany. 8. Division of Neuroscience, Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Damage to the cerebral tissue structural connectivity associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which extends beyond the motor pathways, can be visualised by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The effective translation of DTI metrics as biomarker requires its application across multiple MRI scanners and patient cohorts. A multicentre study was undertaken to assess structural connectivity in ALS within a large sample size. METHODS: 442 DTI data sets from patients with ALS (N=253) and controls (N=189) were collected for this retrospective study, from eight international ALS-specialist clinic sites. Equipment and DTI protocols varied across the centres. Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps of the control participants were used to establish correction matrices to pool data, and correction algorithms were applied to the FA maps of the control and ALS patient groups. RESULTS: Analysis of data pooled from all centres, using whole-brain-based statistical analysis of FA maps, confirmed the most significant alterations in the corticospinal tracts, and captured additional significant white matter tract changes in the frontal lobe, brainstem and hippocampal regions of the ALS group that coincided with postmortem neuropathological stages. Stratification of the ALS group for disease severity (ALS functional rating scale) confirmed these findings. INTERPRETATION: This large-scale study overcomes the challenges associated with processing and analysis of multiplatform, multicentre DTI data, and effectively demonstrates the anatomical fingerprint patterns of changes in a DTI metric that reflect distinct ALS disease stages. This success paves the way for the use of DTI-based metrics as read-out in natural history, prognostic stratification and multisite disease-modifying studies in ALS. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
OBJECTIVE: Damage to the cerebral tissue structural connectivity associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which extends beyond the motor pathways, can be visualised by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The effective translation of DTI metrics as biomarker requires its application across multiple MRI scanners and patient cohorts. A multicentre study was undertaken to assess structural connectivity in ALS within a large sample size. METHODS: 442 DTI data sets from patients with ALS (N=253) and controls (N=189) were collected for this retrospective study, from eight international ALS-specialist clinic sites. Equipment and DTI protocols varied across the centres. Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps of the control participants were used to establish correction matrices to pool data, and correction algorithms were applied to the FA maps of the control and ALSpatient groups. RESULTS: Analysis of data pooled from all centres, using whole-brain-based statistical analysis of FA maps, confirmed the most significant alterations in the corticospinal tracts, and captured additional significant white matter tract changes in the frontal lobe, brainstem and hippocampal regions of the ALS group that coincided with postmortem neuropathological stages. Stratification of the ALS group for disease severity (ALS functional rating scale) confirmed these findings. INTERPRETATION: This large-scale study overcomes the challenges associated with processing and analysis of multiplatform, multicentre DTI data, and effectively demonstrates the anatomical fingerprint patterns of changes in a DTI metric that reflect distinct ALS disease stages. This success paves the way for the use of DTI-based metrics as read-out in natural history, prognostic stratification and multisite disease-modifying studies in ALS. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
Authors: Stacey Li Hi Shing; Mary Clare McKenna; We Fong Siah; Rangariroyashe H Chipika; Orla Hardiman; Peter Bede Journal: Brain Imaging Behav Date: 2021-01-05 Impact factor: 3.978
Authors: Barbara Commisso; Lingjun Ding; Karl Varadi; Martin Gorges; David Bayer; Tobias M Boeckers; Albert C Ludolph; Jan Kassubek; Oliver J Müller; Francesco Roselli Journal: Elife Date: 2018-08-23 Impact factor: 8.140
Authors: Katerina Placek; G Michael Baer; Lauren Elman; Leo McCluskey; Laura Hennessy; Pilar M Ferraro; Edward B Lee; Virginia M Y Lee; John Q Trojanowski; Vivianna M Van Deerlin; Murray Grossman; David J Irwin; Corey T McMillan Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2018-09-27 Impact factor: 4.673
Authors: Sanjay Kalra; Hans-Peter Müller; Abdullah Ishaque; Lorne Zinman; Lawrence Korngut; Angela Genge; Christian Beaulieu; Richard Frayne; Simon J Graham; Jan Kassubek Journal: Neurology Date: 2020-07-09 Impact factor: 9.910