Comparison of grey matter atrophy between patients with neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis: A voxel-based morphometry study

Duan, Yunyun; Liu, Yaou; Liang, Peipeng; Jia, Xiuqin; Yu, Chunshui; Qin, Wen; Sun, Hui; Liao, Zhangyuan; Ye, Jing; Li, Kuncheng

doi:10.1016/j.ejrad.2011.01.065

« Previous Next »European Journal of Radiology
Volume 81, Issue 2 , Pages e110-e114, February 2012

Comparison of grey matter atrophy between patients with neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis: A voxel-based morphometry study

Yunyun Duan
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
- The first two authors wish to be regarded as joint First Authors.
Yaou Liu
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
- The first two authors wish to be regarded as joint First Authors.
Peipeng Liang
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
Xiuqin Jia
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
Chunshui Yu
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
Wen Qin
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
Hui Sun
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
Zhangyuan Liao
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
Jing Ye
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
Kuncheng Li
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, PR China
- Corresponding author at: Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 45, Chang-Chun St., Xuanwu District, Beijing 100053, PR China. Fax: +86 10 83198376.

Received 7 July 2010; accepted 18 January 2011.

Abstract

Purpose

Previous studies have established regional grey matter (GM) loss in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, whether there is any regional GM atrophy in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and the difference between NMO and MS is unclear. The present study addresses this issue by voxel-based morphometry (VBM).

Methods

Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and T1-weighted three-dimensional MRI were obtained from 26 NMO patients, 26 relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) patients, and 26 normal controls. An analysis of covariance model assessed with cluster size inference was used to compare GM volume among three groups. The correlations of GM volume changes with disease duration, expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and brain T2 lesion volume (LV) were analyzed.

Results

GM atrophy was found in NMO patients in several regions of frontal, temporal, parietal lobes and insula (uncorrected, p<0.001). While extensive GM atrophy was found in RRMS patients, including most cortical regions and the deep grey matter (corrected for multiple comparisons, p<0.01). Compared with NMO, those with RRMS had significant GM loss in bilateral thalami, caudate, left parahippocampal gyrus, right hippocampus and insula (corrected, p<0.01). In RRMS group, regional GM loss in right caudate and bilateral thalami were strongly correlated with brain T2LV.

Conclusions

Our study found the difference of GM atrophy between NMO and RRMS patients mainly in deep grey matter. The correlational results suggested axonal degeneration from lesions on T2WI may be a key pathogenesis of atrophy in deep grey matter in RRMS.

Keywords: Neuromyelitis optica, Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis, Voxel-based morphometry, Magnetic resonance imaging, Grey matter