Abstract
Background: Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT MRI) has the potential to provide in vivo information about tissue microstructure. In multiple sclerosis (MS), DT MRI has disclosed the presence of occult structural damage in the normal-appearing brain tissues. Objective: To investigate whether DT MRI is sensitive to longitudinal changes of brain damage that may occur beyond the resolution of T2-weighted images in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Design: Twenty-six untreated patients with relapsing-remitting MS were followed up for 18 months. Dualecho, DT and postcontrast TI-weighted MRIs of the brain were obtained at baseline and then every 3 months. Mean diffusivity (D) histograms of normal-appearing gray (GM) and white matter were produced. Total T2-hyperintense and TI-hypointense lesion volumes; normalized whole brain tissue, GM, and white matter volumes; percentage brain volume change between the study entry and exit images; average lesion D̄; and fractional anisotropy were also calculated. Results: During the study period, a significant decrease of normalized whole brain tissue, average lesion fractional anisotropy and normal-appearing GM D̄ histogram peak height, and a significant increase of , average normal-appearing GM D̄ and T2-hyperintense lesion volumes were observed. Changes of normal-appearing GM diffusivity were independent of the concomitant changes of normalized whole brain tissue and GM volumes. Conclusions: The DT MRI findings show progressive microstructural changes in the normal-appearing GM of patients with untreated relapsing-remitting MS. Such changes do not reflect a concomitant development of brain atrophy and confirm the importance of GM pathology in MS.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 578-584 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Archives of Neurology |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2005 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
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Progressive gray matter damage in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis : A longitudinal diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging study. / Oreja-Guevara, Celia; Rovaris, Marco; Iannucci, Giuseppe; Valsasina, Paola; Caputo, Domenico; Cavarretta, Rosella; Sormani, Maria Pia; Ferrante, Pasquale; Comi, Giancarlo; Filippi, Massimo.
In: Archives of Neurology, Vol. 62, No. 4, 04.2005, p. 578-584.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Progressive gray matter damage in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
T2 - A longitudinal diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging study
AU - Oreja-Guevara, Celia
AU - Rovaris, Marco
AU - Iannucci, Giuseppe
AU - Valsasina, Paola
AU - Caputo, Domenico
AU - Cavarretta, Rosella
AU - Sormani, Maria Pia
AU - Ferrante, Pasquale
AU - Comi, Giancarlo
AU - Filippi, Massimo
PY - 2005/4
Y1 - 2005/4
N2 - Background: Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT MRI) has the potential to provide in vivo information about tissue microstructure. In multiple sclerosis (MS), DT MRI has disclosed the presence of occult structural damage in the normal-appearing brain tissues. Objective: To investigate whether DT MRI is sensitive to longitudinal changes of brain damage that may occur beyond the resolution of T2-weighted images in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Design: Twenty-six untreated patients with relapsing-remitting MS were followed up for 18 months. Dualecho, DT and postcontrast TI-weighted MRIs of the brain were obtained at baseline and then every 3 months. Mean diffusivity (D) histograms of normal-appearing gray (GM) and white matter were produced. Total T2-hyperintense and TI-hypointense lesion volumes; normalized whole brain tissue, GM, and white matter volumes; percentage brain volume change between the study entry and exit images; average lesion D̄; and fractional anisotropy were also calculated. Results: During the study period, a significant decrease of normalized whole brain tissue, average lesion fractional anisotropy and normal-appearing GM D̄ histogram peak height, and a significant increase of , average normal-appearing GM D̄ and T2-hyperintense lesion volumes were observed. Changes of normal-appearing GM diffusivity were independent of the concomitant changes of normalized whole brain tissue and GM volumes. Conclusions: The DT MRI findings show progressive microstructural changes in the normal-appearing GM of patients with untreated relapsing-remitting MS. Such changes do not reflect a concomitant development of brain atrophy and confirm the importance of GM pathology in MS.
AB - Background: Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT MRI) has the potential to provide in vivo information about tissue microstructure. In multiple sclerosis (MS), DT MRI has disclosed the presence of occult structural damage in the normal-appearing brain tissues. Objective: To investigate whether DT MRI is sensitive to longitudinal changes of brain damage that may occur beyond the resolution of T2-weighted images in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. Design: Twenty-six untreated patients with relapsing-remitting MS were followed up for 18 months. Dualecho, DT and postcontrast TI-weighted MRIs of the brain were obtained at baseline and then every 3 months. Mean diffusivity (D) histograms of normal-appearing gray (GM) and white matter were produced. Total T2-hyperintense and TI-hypointense lesion volumes; normalized whole brain tissue, GM, and white matter volumes; percentage brain volume change between the study entry and exit images; average lesion D̄; and fractional anisotropy were also calculated. Results: During the study period, a significant decrease of normalized whole brain tissue, average lesion fractional anisotropy and normal-appearing GM D̄ histogram peak height, and a significant increase of , average normal-appearing GM D̄ and T2-hyperintense lesion volumes were observed. Changes of normal-appearing GM diffusivity were independent of the concomitant changes of normalized whole brain tissue and GM volumes. Conclusions: The DT MRI findings show progressive microstructural changes in the normal-appearing GM of patients with untreated relapsing-remitting MS. Such changes do not reflect a concomitant development of brain atrophy and confirm the importance of GM pathology in MS.
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U2 - 10.1001/archneur.62.4.578
DO - 10.1001/archneur.62.4.578
M3 - Article
VL - 62
SP - 578
EP - 584
JO - Archives of Neurology
JF - Archives of Neurology
SN - 0003-9942
IS - 4
ER -