Voxel-based morphometry in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions with and without...

Mutations in the progranulin gene (PGRN) have recently been identified as a cause of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions (FTLD-U) in some families.

To determine whether there is a difference in the patterns of atrophy in FTLD-U cases with and without PGRN mutations.

Case-control study.

Brain bank of a tertiary care medical center. Patients Eight subjects who had screened positive for PGRN mutations (PGRN-positive) and who underwent volumetric magnetic resonance imaging were identified. Subjects were then matched by clinical diagnosis to a group of 8 subjects with a pathological diagnosis of FTLD-U who had screened negative for PGRN mutations (PGRN-negative). All subjects were then age-matched and sex-matched to a control subject.

Voxel-based morphometry was used to assess the patterns of gray matter atrophy in the PGRN-positive group compared with the PGRN-negative group and compared with controls.

The PGRN-positive group showed a widespread and severe pattern of gray matter loss predominantly affecting the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. The PGRN-negative group showed a less severe pattern of gray matter loss restricted mainly to the temporal and frontal lobes. On direct comparison, the PGRN-positive group showed greater gray matter loss in the frontal and parietal lobes compared with the PGRN-negative group.

Findings from this study suggest that PGRN mutations may be associated with a specific and severe pattern of cerebral atrophy in subjects with FTLD-U.