Journal article
Peripheral nerve diffusion tensor imaging as a measure of disease progression in ALS
Journal of Neurology, Vol.264(5), pp.882-890
2017
Abstract
Clinical trial design in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains hampered by a lack of reliable and sensitive biomarkers of disease progression. The present study evaluated peripheral nerve diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) as a surrogate marker of axonal degeneration in ALS. Longitudinal studies were undertaken in 21 ALS patients studied at 0 and 3 months, and 19 patients at 0, 3 and 6 months, with results compared to 13 age-matched controls. Imaging metrics were correlated across a range of functional assessments including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale revised (ALSFRS-R), lower limb muscle strength (Medical Research Council sum score, MRCSS-LL), compound muscle action potential amplitudes and motor unit number estimation (MUNE). Fractional anisotropy was reduced at baseline in ALS patients in the tibial (p < 0.05), and peroneal nerve (p < 0.05). Fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity declined in the tibial nerve between baselines, 3- and 6-month scans (p < 0.01). From a functional perspective, ALSFRS-R correlated with fractional anisotropy values from tibial (R = 0.75, p < 0.001) and peroneal nerves (R = 0.52, p = 0.001). Similarly, peroneal nerve MUNE values correlated with fractional anisotropy values from the tibial (R = 0.48, p = 0.002) and peroneal nerve (R = 0.39, p = 0.01). There were correlations between the change in ALSFRS-R and tibial nerve axial diffusivity (R = 0.38, p = 0.02) and the change in MRCSS-LL and peroneal nerve fractional anisotropy (R = 0.44, p = 0.009). In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that some peripheral nerve DTI metrics are sensitive to axonal degeneration in ALS. Further, that DTI metrics correlated with measures of functional disability, strength and neurophysiological measures of lower motor neuron loss.
Details
- Title
- Peripheral nerve diffusion tensor imaging as a measure of disease progression in ALS
- Authors
- N G Simon (Author) - University of New South WalesJim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawS Paling (Author) - University of SydneyC Pfluger (Author) - University of QueenslandS B Park (Author) - University of SydneyJ Howells (Author) - University of SydneyT Gallagher (Author) - Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, United StatesM Kliot (Author) - Stanford Neurosience Health Center, United StatesR D Henderson (Author) - Royal Brisbane and Women's HospitalS Vucic (Author) - University of SydneyM C Kiernan (Author) - University of Sydney
- Publication details
- Journal of Neurology, Vol.264(5), pp.882-890
- Publisher
- Springer Medizin
- Date published
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00415-017-8443-x
- ISSN
- 0340-5354
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450599002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
6 File views/ downloads
765 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Clinical Neurology
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites