Lichtenstein Thorsten, Sprenger Alina, Weiss Kilian, Große Hokamp Nils, Maintz David, Schlamann Marc, Fink Gereon R, Lehmann Helmar C, Henning Tobias D
Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Front Neurosci. 2021 Aug 26;15:682126. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.682126. eCollection 2021.
To evaluate the utility of nerve magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and muscle MRI multi-echo Dixon for assessing lower motor neuron (LMN) degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
In this prospective observational cohort study, 14 patients with ALS and 13 healthy controls underwent a multiparametric MRI protocol, including DTI of the sciatic nerve and assessment of muscle proton density fat fraction of the biceps femoris and the quadriceps femoris muscles by a multi-echo Dixon sequence.
In ALS patients, mean fractional anisotropy values of the sciatic nerve were significantly lower than those of healthy controls. The quadriceps femoris, but not the biceps femoris muscle, showed significantly higher intramuscular fat fractions in ALS.
Our study provides evidence that multiparametric MRI protocols might help estimate structural nerve damage and neurogenic muscle changes in ALS.
评估神经磁共振成像（MRI）、扩散张量成像（DTI）和肌肉MRI多回波狄克逊序列在评估肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）中运动神经元（LMN）变性方面的效用。
在这项前瞻性观察队列研究中，14例ALS患者和13名健康对照者接受了多参数MRI检查，包括坐骨神经的DTI以及通过多回波狄克逊序列评估股二头肌和股四头肌的肌肉质子密度脂肪分数。
在ALS患者中，坐骨神经的平均各向异性分数值显著低于健康对照者。股四头肌而非股二头肌在ALS患者中显示出显著更高的肌内脂肪分数。
我们的研究提供了证据，表明多参数MRI检查可能有助于评估ALS中的神经结构损伤和神经源性肌肉变化。
