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White matter microstructure abnormalities in pediatric migraine patients
Roberta Messina1, Maria A Rocca1, Bruno Colombo2
1Neuroimaging Research Unit, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy Department of Neurology, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|March 22, 2015
Summary
Pediatric migraine patients show widespread white matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities, indicated by altered diffusivity and anisotropy. These changes may suggest underlying brain hyperexcitability in young migraineurs.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- White Matter Microstructure
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Diffusion tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers insights into white matter (WM) microstructural integrity.
- Pediatric migraine is associated with potential neurological alterations that warrant investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate WM microstructural abnormalities in pediatric migraine patients.
- To compare DT MRI findings between migraine patients and age-matched controls using two analytical methods.
Main Methods:
- Acquisition of dual-echo and DT MRI scans from 15 pediatric migraine patients and 15 controls.
- Whole-brain voxel-wise analysis using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS).
- DT probabilistic tractography analysis was also performed.
Main Results:
- Pediatric migraine patients exhibited significantly lower mean (MD), axial (AD), and radial (RD) diffusivity in multiple WM tracts compared to controls.
- Increased fractional anisotropy (FA) was observed in the optic radiations of patients.
- No correlation was found between WM abnormalities and migraine disease duration or attack frequency.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric migraine patients present with diffuse WM microstructural abnormalities.
- Altered diffusivity and anisotropy may indicate neuronal activation, myelin modulation, or increased neural densities.
- These findings suggest potential brain hyperexcitability in pediatric migraineurs.
