Quantitative analysis of morphological features in Huntington's disease

In an electron microscopic study neuronal nuclear membrane indentations and astrocyte/neuron ratios in the nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus and frontal cortex were counted in 30 Huntington's disease patients and 23 controls. Discriminant analysis was performed and resulted in a discriminant equation, which was able to recognize all controls correctly. Three Huntington patients were not correctly recognized, although in only one patient the probability of being a control was higher than being a Huntington patient. This discriminant equation was used in four choreatic patients with a negative family history. Two patients were indicated as controls, one patient as being a Huntington patient, and one as dubious. The diagnostic yield of discriminant analysis is discussed.