Reduced Myelin Water in the White Matter Tracts of Patients with Niemann-Pick Disease Type C.

Previous studies using diffusion tensor imaging to examine white matter in Niemann-Pick disease type C have produced mixed results. However, diffusion tensor imaging does not directly measure myelin and may be affected by other structural changes. We used myelin water imaging to more directly examine demyelination in 2 patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C. The results suggest that this technique may be useful for identifying regional changes in myelination in this condition.