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OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of diffusion tensor imaging applied to those specific cerebral white matter tracts consistently involved pathologically in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a source of prognostic biomarkers. DESIGN: Baseline clinical assessment and 3-T diffusion tensor imaging, repeated after approximately 6 months.Tract-based spatial statistics were used to assess voxel wise correlations of just the baseline diffusion tensor imaging indices with the progression rate (change in disability score/time interval) within the corticospinal tract and corpus callosum. PATIENTS: The study involved 21 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 3 patients with primary lateral sclerosis. RESULTS: Correlation was observed between fractional anisotropy and progression rate for a region of the corticospinal tract spanning the posterior limb of the internal capsule, with a left hemisphere emphasis. Posterior limb of the internal capsule fractional anisotropy showed potential to distinguish those patients with rapid progression. Axial diffusivity significantly increased in this region in a paired t test analysis of baseline and follow-up diffusion tensor imaging, in keeping with axonal damage.No correlations were noted for the corpus callosum. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior limb of the internal capsule fractional anisotropy is a candidate prognostic marker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with potential to identify incident cases with more rapid progression.

Original publication

DOI

10.1001/archneurol.2012.1122

Type

Journal article

Journal

Arch Neurol

Publication Date

11/2012

Volume

69

Pages

1493 - 1499

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Anisotropy, Brain Mapping, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Female, Humans, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Internal Capsule, Longitudinal Studies, Lower Extremity, Male, Middle Aged, Prognosis