Title:Secondary Degeneration of White Matter Tract following Basal Ganglia
Infarction: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study
Volume: 20
Author(s): Shasha Zheng, Qixiang Lin, Miao Zhang, Hesheng Liu, Yong He and Jie Lu*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Beijing 100053, China
Keywords:
Fractional anisotropy, Cerebral peduncle, Corpus callosum, Ipsilesional, Anterograde degeneration, Stroke.
Abstract:
Introduction:
We explored the relationship between secondary degeneration of white matter (WM) tracts and motor outcomes after left basal ganglia infarction
and investigated alterations in the diffusion indices of WM tracts in distal areas.
Methods:
Clinical neurological evaluations were accomplished using the Fugl–Meyer scale (FMS). Then, the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the bilateral
superior corona radiata (SCR), cerebral peduncle (CP), corticospinal tracts (CST), and corpus callosum (CC) were measured in all patients and
control subjects.
Results:
Regional-based analysis revealed decreased FA values in the ipsilesional SCR, CP, and CST of the patients, compared to the control subjects at 5-
time points. The relative FA (rFA) values of the SCR, CP, and CST decreased progressively with time, the lowest values recorded at 90 days
before increasing slightly at 180 days after stroke. Compared to the contralateral areas, the FA values of the ipsilesional SCR and CST areas were
significantly decreased (P=0.023), while those of the CP decreased at 180 days (P=0.008). Compared with the values at 7 days, the rFA values of
the ipsilesional SCR and CP areas were significantly reduced at 14, 30, and 90 days, while those in the CST area were significantly reduced at 14,
90, and 180 days. The CP rFA value at 7 days correlated positively with the FM scores at 180 days (r=0.469, P=0.037).
Conclusion:
This study provides an objective, comprehensive, and automated protocol for detecting secondary degeneration of WM, which is important in
understanding rehabilitation mechanisms after stroke.
