Laura Cacciaguerra1, Maria A Rocca2, Loredana Storelli3, Marta Radaelli4, Massimo Filippi5. 1. Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy/Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy. 2. Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy/Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. 3. Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. 4. Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. 5. Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy/Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy/Neurophysiology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy/Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The pathogenetic mechanisms sustaining neuroinflammatory disorders may originate from the cerebrospinal fluid. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate white matter damage with diffusion tensor imaging and T1/T2-weighted ratio at progressive distances from the ventricular system in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity and T1/T2-weighted ratio maps were obtained from patients with seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, multiple sclerosis, and healthy controls (n = 20 each group). White matter damage was assessed as function of ventricular distance within progressive concentric bands. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders patients had similar fractional anisotropy, radial and axial diffusivity, increased mean diffusivity (p = 0.009-0.013) and reduced T1/T2-weighted ratio (p = 0.024-0.037) in all bands. In multiple sclerosis, gradient of percentage lesion volume and intra-lesional mean and axial diffusivity were higher in periventricular bands. Compared to healthy controls, multiple sclerosis patients had reduced fractional anisotropy (p = 0.001-0.043) in periventricular bands, increased mean (p < 0.001), radial (p < 0.001-0.004), and axial diffusivity (p = 0.002-0.008) and preserved T1/T2-weighted ratio in all bands. CONCLUSION: White matter damage is higher at periventricular level in multiple sclerosis and diffuse in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Fractional anisotropy preservation, associated with increased mean diffusivity and reduced T1/T2-weighted ratio may reflect astrocyte damage.
BACKGROUND: The pathogenetic mechanisms sustaining neuroinflammatory disorders may originate from the cerebrospinal fluid. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate white matter damage with diffusion tensor imaging and T1/T2-weighted ratio at progressive distances from the ventricular system in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders and multiple sclerosis. METHODS: Fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity and T1/T2-weighted ratio maps were obtained from patients with seropositive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, multiple sclerosis, and healthy controls (n = 20 each group). White matter damage was assessed as function of ventricular distance within progressive concentric bands. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorderspatients had similar fractional anisotropy, radial and axial diffusivity, increased mean diffusivity (p = 0.009-0.013) and reduced T1/T2-weighted ratio (p = 0.024-0.037) in all bands. In multiple sclerosis, gradient of percentage lesion volume and intra-lesional mean and axial diffusivity were higher in periventricular bands. Compared to healthy controls, multiple sclerosispatients had reduced fractional anisotropy (p = 0.001-0.043) in periventricular bands, increased mean (p < 0.001), radial (p < 0.001-0.004), and axial diffusivity (p = 0.002-0.008) and preserved T1/T2-weighted ratio in all bands. CONCLUSION:White matter damage is higher at periventricular level in multiple sclerosis and diffuse in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Fractional anisotropy preservation, associated with increased mean diffusivity and reduced T1/T2-weighted ratio may reflect astrocyte damage.
Authors: Graham Cooper; Claudia Chien; Hanna Zimmermann; Judith Bellmann-Strobl; Klemens Ruprecht; Joseph Kuchling; Susanna Asseyer; Alexander U Brandt; Michael Scheel; Carsten Finke; Friedemann Paul Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2021-04-15 Impact factor: 6.312