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Research Article

Tract-based spatial statistics analysis of diffusion-tensor imaging data in pediatric- and adult-onset multiple sclerosis

  1. Rachel Aliotta1,2,
  2. Jennifer L. Cox1,2,
  3. Katelyn Donohue1,2,
  4. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman1,3,
  5. E. Ann Yeh1,3,
  6. Paul Polak1,2,
  7. Michael G. Dwyer1,2,
  8. Robert Zivadinov1,2,3,*

Article first published online: 30 AUG 2012

DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22148

Additional Information

How to Cite

Aliotta, R., Cox, J. L., Donohue, K., Weinstock-Guttman, B., Yeh, E. A., Polak, P., Dwyer, M. G. and Zivadinov, R. (2012), Tract-based spatial statistics analysis of diffusion-tensor imaging data in pediatric- and adult-onset multiple sclerosis. Hum. Brain Mapp.. doi: 10.1002/hbm.22148

Author Information

  1. 1

    State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York

  2. 2

    Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center, Buffalo, New York

  3. 3

    The Jacobs Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology, Buffalo, New York

*Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo Neuroimaging Analysis Center,100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14203

Publication History

  1. Article first published online: 30 AUG 2012
  2. Manuscript Received: 12 OCT 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 5 JUN 2012
  4. Manuscript Revised: 29 MAY 2012

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Keywords:

  • multiple sclerosis;
  • diffusion-tensor-imaging;
  • tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS);
  • pediatric-onset;
  • adult-onset

Abstract

Background: White matter (WM) microstructure may vary significantly in pediatric-onset (PO) and adult-onset (AO) patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a difference that could be explained by the effects of an inherent plasticity in the affected pediatric brains early in the disease, and a phenomenon that does not occur later in life. This hypothesis would support the observation that disease progression is much slower in POMS compared to AOMS patients. Objectives: To examine WM microstructure in the brain of adults with POMS and AOMS, using tract based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis of diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI). Methods: Adults with relapsing-remitting (RR) POMS, who were diagnosed before age of 18 years (n = 16), were compared with age-matched (AOA, n = 23) and disease duration-matched (AOD, n = 22) RR patients who developed MS after the age of 18 years. Scans were analyzed using the FSL software package (Oxford, UK) and statistics were performed using TBSS to evaluate WM microstructure between groups based on the mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values obtained from the DTI. Results: Widespread cortical and deep WM area differences characterized by increased FA values were seen in the AOAMS compared with POMS group (P < 0.05, TFCE corrected). Significantly increased FA values of posterior WM areas were detected in the AODMS compared with POMS group (P < 0.05, TFCE corrected). Conclusion: Increased FA values in WM areas of the AOMS compared with the POMS patients suggest that diffuse WM microstructure changes are more attributable to age of onset than a simple function of disease duration and age. Hum Brain Mapp, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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