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White matter water diffusion changes in primary Sjögren syndrome.
L C Tzarouchi1, A K Zikou, N Tsifetaki
1From the Departments of Radiology (L.C.T., A.K.Z., M.I.A.).
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|November 5, 2013
Summary
Patients with primary Sjögren syndrome exhibit white matter (WM) damage, showing reduced microstructural integrity. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) revealed significant microstructural changes in WM, likely due to Wallerian degeneration and demyelination.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Histopathologic studies indicate white matter (WM) damage in primary Sjögren syndrome.
- Primary Sjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate white matter (WM) microstructural changes using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters.
- To identify specific DTI-derived abnormalities in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed on 19 patients with primary Sjögren syndrome and 16 age-matched controls.
- Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD).
- Statistical analysis involved 5000 permutations with a P < .01 threshold, corrected for multiple comparisons.
Main Results:
- Patients with primary Sjögren syndrome showed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in multiple WM tracts, including the corticospinal tract and superior longitudinal fasciculus.
- Increased mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD), along with decreased axial diffusivity (AD), were observed in most brain fiber tracts.
- These findings suggest widespread WM microstructural abnormalities in primary Sjögren syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Primary Sjögren syndrome is associated with a loss of white matter (WM) microstructural integrity.
- The observed WM damage is likely a result of both Wallerian degeneration and demyelination.
- DTI parameters can effectively detect microstructural WM changes in primary Sjögren syndrome.
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