Open AccessMulticontrast connectometry : A new tool to assess cerebellum alterations in early relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Romascano David,
Meskaldji DjalelEddine,
Bonnier Guillaume,
Simioni Samanta,
Rotzinger David,
Lin YingChia,
Menegaz Gloria,
Roche Alexis,
Schluep Myriam,
Pasquier Renaud Du,
Richiardi Jonas,
Van De Ville Dimitri,
Daducci Alessandro,
Sumpf Tilman,
Fraham Jens,
Thiran JeanPhilippe,
Krueger Gunnar,
Granziera Cristina
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.22698
Subject(s) - cerebellum , multiple sclerosis , fractional anisotropy , diffusion mri , connectome , neuroscience , clinically isolated syndrome , psychology , magnetic resonance imaging , lesion , pathology , medicine , functional connectivity , radiology , psychiatry
Background: Cerebellar pathology occurs in late multiple sclerosis (MS) but little is known about cerebellar changes during early disease stages. In this study, we propose a new multicontrast “connectometry” approach to assess the structural and functional integrity of cerebellar networks and connectivity in early MS . Methods: We used diffusion spectrum and resting‐state functional MRI (rs‐fMRI) to establish the structural and functional cerebellar connectomes in 28 early relapsing‐remitting MS patients and 16 healthy controls (HC). We performed multicontrast “connectometry” by quantifying multiple MRI parameters along the structural tracts (generalized fractional anisotropy‐GFA, T1/T2 relaxation times and magnetization transfer ratio) and functional connectivity measures. Subsequently, we assessed multivariate differences in local connections and network properties between MS and HC subjects; finally, we correlated detected alterations with lesion load, disease duration, and clinical scores. Results: In MS patients, a subset of structural connections showed quantitative MRI changes suggesting loss of axonal microstructure and integrity (increased T1 and decreased GFA, P < 0.05). These alterations highly correlated with motor, memory and attention in patients, but were independent of cerebellar lesion load and disease duration. Neither network organization nor rs‐fMRI abnormalities were observed at this early stage. Conclusion: Multicontrast cerebellar connectometry revealed subtle cerebellar alterations in MS patients, which were independent of conventional disease markers and highly correlated with patient function. Future work should assess the prognostic value of the observed damage. Hum Brain Mapp 36:1609–1619, 2015 . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.