Background: To explore normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). DTI study provides measures of WM integrity in adult MS patients. Pediatric MS patients provide a uniquely early window for exploring pathological components of myelin disruption.
Methods: DTI data were obtained for 23 pediatric MS patients and 17 healthy children. Images were acquired using GE LX1.5T scanner (DTI parameters: 25 directions, 5mm slice thickness, b=1000s/mm2). Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion co-efficient (ADC) were analyzed in lesions and NAWM throughout corpus callosum (CC) and hemispheres.
Results: Altered NAWM integrity in MS patients relative to controls is demonstrated by: reduced FA values (p<0.0001) and elevated ADC values (p<0.05) throughout CC and hemispheres.
Conclusions: DTI measures show widespread disruption of WM integrity in children with MS extending beyond visible lesions. These findings implicate diffuse and potentially very early WM degeneration in MS pathobiology.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OTU.1807/17494 |
| Date | 30 July 2009 |
| Creators | Bethune, Allison J. |
| Contributors | Banwell, Brenda |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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