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Updated: May 13, 2026
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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
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Brain white matter microstructural alterations in Behcet's syndrome correlate with cognitive impairment and disease
Osman Aykan Kargin1, Serdar Arslan1, Bora Korkmazer1
1Department of Radiology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
|July 14, 2024
Summary
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals white matter damage in patients with Neuro-Behcet's syndrome (NBS) and Behcet's syndrome (BS), potentially serving as a biomarker for neurocognitive decline and disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Behcet's syndrome (BS) is a multisystem inflammatory disease.
- Neuro-Behcet's syndrome (NBS) involves central nervous system manifestations.
- Subtle white matter changes may precede overt neurological symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate white matter integrity in NBS and BS patients without neurological symptoms using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
- To explore DTI's potential as a biomarker for neurocognitive function and disease severity in BS.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 34 NBS, 32 BS patients, and 33 controls.
- Cognitive functions assessed via standardized questionnaires.
- DTI analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics and probabilistic tractography.
Main Results:
- NBS patients showed widespread white matter microstructural integrity loss (decreased FA, increased diffusivities).
- BS patients exhibited similar, but less pronounced, white matter changes.
- White matter tract integrity correlated with cognitive performance and disease severity in NBS.
Conclusions:
- DTI may serve as a neuroimaging marker for neurocognitive impairment and disease severity in BS.
- Early detection of white matter changes is crucial for managing central nervous system involvement in BS.
