This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Holst, B Articles by Fiehler, J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Holst, B Articles by Fiehler, J Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

T2' imaging indicates decreased tissue metabolism in frontal white matter of MS patients

Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germanyb.holst{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de

S Siemonsen

Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

J Finsterbusch

Department of systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

M Bester

Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

S Schippling

Department of Neurology and Institute for Neuroimmunology and Clinical MS Research (inims), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

R Martin

Institute for Neuroimmunology and Clinical MS Research (inims), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

J Fiehler

Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

Background and purpose

T2'-Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows estimation of oxygen metabolism in normal appearing white and gray matter (NAWM and NAGM) and is sensitive to local iron deposition. We hypothesized that T2' imaging is feasible in routine use and reveals differences between MS patients and healthy subjects.

Methods

T2- and T2*-weighted images were acquired in 23 MS patients (Mean age: 36.8, range: 23–58 years) and 23 age-matched healthy subjects. Quantitative T2- and T2*-values were determined in six regions of interest (ROIs).

Results

The T2' values in thalamus and caudate nucleus were significantly lower in MS patients than in healthy subjects (139 ms vs 157 ms, P < 0.001 and 97 ms vs 115 ms, P < 0.01). The NAWM in the frontal lobe revealed significant higher T2' values than in healthy subjects (217 ms vs 170 ms, P < 0.001). The subcortical NAWM revealed significant lower T2' values than in healthy subjects (174 ms vs 187 ms, P < 0.028).

Conclusion

T2' values differed significantly between MS patients and healthy subjects. The reduced T2' values in the basal ganglia are presumably related to higher iron concentration whereas the increased T2' in frontal NAWM most probably reflects reduced tissue metabolism. T2' imaging is feasible for routine-use and promising for monitoring therapy effects.

Key Words: gray matter • iron • MRI • multiple sclerosis • quantitative imaging measure • white matter

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 15, No. 6, 701-707 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1352458509103713


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?