Document Detail


Linear longitudinal decline in fractional anisotropy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: preliminary results.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19636503     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As potential therapies aimed at halting or slowing the decline in upper motor neuron function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) are developed, a quantitative method for monitoring response will be necessary. Measurement of fractional anisotropy (FA) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) over time should parallel functional decline from upper motor neuron degeneration in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two patients with definite ALS were imaged at 3.0 T and FA values were obtained in the corticospinal tract every 3 months for 1 year. The FA values were compared to normal age-matched controls. RESULTS: Both patients showed linear decreases in FA values over time with R(2) values ranging from 0.93 to 0.99. The decline became statistically significant over the course of the study. Qualitative decreases in anisotropy were also evident on FA maps. CONCLUSION: If these trends can be validated in greater numbers of patients, DTI may serve as an objective quantitative biomarker for disease progression in patients with upper motor neuron disease.
Authors:
Joshua P Nickerson; Christopher J Koski; Andrew C Boyer; Heather N Burbank; Rup Tandan; Christopher G Filippi
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2009-05-23
Journal Detail:
Title:  Klinische Neuroradiologie     Volume:  19     ISSN:  1615-6706     ISO Abbreviation:  Klin Neuroradiol     Publication Date:  2009 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-07-28     Completed Date:  2009-10-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9422582     Medline TA:  Klin Neuroradiol     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  129-34     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Fletcher Allen Healthcare/The University of Vermont, 111 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT 05401, USA. Joshua.Nickerson@vtmednet.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology*,  radiography*
Anisotropy
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Disease Progression
Fasciculation / etiology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Motor Neuron Disease / pathology,  radiography
Pyramidal Tracts / physiopathology,  radiography
Time Factors

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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