MAGMA. 2016 Jun;29(3):535-41. doi: 10.1007/s10334-016-0554-3. Epub 2016 Apr 12.
Schumacher S1, Pache F1,2, Bellmann-Strobl J1,3, Behrens J1, Dusek P4,2, Harms L5,6, Ruprecht K5,6, Nytrova P2, Chawla S7, Niendorf T8,3, Kister I9, Paul F10,11,12,13, Ge Y7, Wuerfel J1,4,8,3,14, Sinnecker T1,14,15,16.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To quantify the periventricular venous density in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) in comparison to that in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy control subjects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Sixteen patients with NMOSD, 16 patients with MS and 16 healthy control subjects underwent 7.0-Tesla (7T) MRI. The imaging protocol included T2*-weighted (T2*w) fast low angle-shot (FLASH) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences. The periventricular venous area (PVA) was manually determined by a blinded investigator in order to estimate the periventricular venous density in a region of interest-based approach.
RESULTS:
No significant differences in periventricular venous density indicated by PVA were detectable in NMOSD versus healthy controls (p = 0.226). In contrast, PVA was significantly reduced in MS patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.013).
CONCLUSION:
Unlike patients with MS, those suffering from NMOSD did not show reduced venous visibility. This finding may underscore primary and secondary pathophysiological differences between these two distinct diseases of the central nervous system.
KEYWORDS:
7T MRI; Multiple sclerosis; Neuromyelitis optica; Ultrahigh-field MRI; Venous density
- PMID:
- 27072685
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s10334-016-0554-3