Premium
Caudate nuclei volume, diffusion tensor metrics, and T 2 relaxation in healthy adults and relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis patients: Implications for understanding gray matter degeneration
Author(s) -
Hasan Khader M.,
Halphen Christopher,
Kamali Arash,
Nelson Flavia M.,
Wolinsky Jerry S.,
Narayana Ponnada A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.21648
Subject(s) - fractional anisotropy , diffusion mri , multiple sclerosis , medicine , caudate nucleus , internal capsule , cohort , gastroenterology , cardiology , nuclear medicine , white matter , magnetic resonance imaging , pathology , radiology , immunology
Purpose To investigate the utility of caudate nuclei (CN) macro‐ and microstructural metrics as markers of gray matter degeneration in healthy adults and relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients. Materials and Methods The normal age‐ and pathology‐related changes in caudate nuclei volume (CNV), the corresponding diffusion tensor metrics, and the T 2 relaxation times were measured in a cohort of 32 healthy adults (12 men/20 women; age range 21–59 years) and 32 age‐matched RRMS patients (8 men/34 women; age range 21–57 years). Results Smaller values in both the absolute CNV and the caudate volume ratio relative to the total intracranial volume (CNVp) were observed in the RRMS group relative to healthy controls. The fractional anisotropy (FA), based on the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the CN increased with age in healthy adults ( r = 0.52; P = 0.003) but not in patients ( r = 0.28; P = 0.12). The caudate FA value was approximately 9% larger in RRMS patients relative to controls ( P = 0.001). The mean diffusivity of the CN was greater in the RRMS group compared to controls ( P = 0.02). The caudate T 2 relaxation times were smaller in the RRMS group relative to the control group (3% reduction, P = 0.05). T 2 relaxation times did not exhibit age‐related changes ( P > 0.35) in either cohort. Strong and significant correlations between CNVp and whole‐brain lesion load ( r = −0.48; P = 0.005) and whole‐brain CSF fraction ( r = −0.46; P = 0.01) were also noted. Conclusion These preliminary findings indicate that caudate DTI‐derived metrics can serve as potential quantitative radiological markers of MS pathology. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:70–77. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.