Journal article
Decoding diffusivity in multiple schlerosis: analysis of optic radiation lesional and non-lesional white matter
PLoS One, Vol.10, e0122114
2015
Abstract
Objectives: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been suggested as a new promising tool in MS that may provide greater pathological specificity than conventional MRI, helping, therefore, to elucidate disease pathogenesis and monitor therapeutic efficacy. However, the pathological substrates that underpin alterations in brain tissue diffusivity are not yet fully delineated. Tract-specific DTI analysis has previously been proposed in an attempt to alleviate this problem. Here, we extended this approach by segmenting a single tract into areas bound by seemingly similar pathological processes, which may better delineate the potential association between DTI metrics and underlying tissue damage. Method: Several compartments were segmented in optic radiation (OR) of 50 relapsing-remitting MS patients including T2 lesions, proximal and distal parts of fibers transected by lesion and fibers with no discernable pathology throughout the entire length of the OR. Results: Asymmetry analysis between lesional and non-lesional fibers demonstrated a marked increase in Radial Diffusivity (RD), which was topographically limited to focal T2 lesions and potentially relates to the lesional myelin loss. A relative elevation of Axial Diffusivity (AD) in the distal part of the lesional fibers was observed in a distribution consistent with Wallerian degeneration, while diffusivity in the proximal portion of transected axons remained normal. A moderate, but significant elevation of RD in OR non-lesional fibers was strongly associated with the global (but not local) T2 lesion burden and is probably related to microscopic demyelination undetected by conventional MRI. Conclusion: This study highlights the utility of the compartmentalization approach in elucidating the pathological substrates of diffusivity and demonstrates the presence of tissue-specific patterns of altered diffusivity in MS, providing further evidence that DTI is a sensitive marker of tissue damage in both lesions and NAWM. Our results suggest that, at least within the OR, parallel and perpendicular diffusivities are affected by tissue restructuring related to distinct pathological processes.
Details
- Title
- Decoding diffusivity in multiple schlerosis: analysis of optic radiation lesional and non-lesional white matter
- Authors
- A Klistorner (Author) - University of SydneyN Vootakuru (Author) - Westmead HospitalC Wang (Author) - University of SydneyC Yiannikas (Author) - North Shore HospitalS L Graham (Author) - University of SydneyJ Parratt (Author) - North Shore HospitalR Garrick (Author) - St. Vincent HospitalN Levin (Author) - Hadassah Hebrew University Medical CenterL Masters (Author) - University of SydneyJim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of SydneyM H Barnett (Author) - University of Sydney
- Publication details
- PLoS One, Vol.10, e0122114
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0122114
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2015 Klistorner et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99449357002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Neurosciences
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