RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diffuse White Matter Damage Is Absent in Neuromyelitis Optica
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 76
OP 79
DO 10.3174/ajnr.A1791
VO 31
IS 1
A1 F. Aboul-Enein
A1 M. Krššák
A1 R. Höftberger
A1 D. Prayer
A1 W. Kristoferitsch
YR 2010
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/31/1/76.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an idiopathic mostly relapsing inflammatory disease with attacks on the optic nerves and spinal cord. Whether NMO is a separate disease or a subtype of classic multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear. Clinically, CSF and MR imaging parameters and histopathologic data suggest that the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) may be affected in MS but not in patients with NMO. Therefore, we hypothesized that the NAWM in NMO is normal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied prospectively 8 patients with clinically definitive NMO or remitting longitudinal extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) and 8 healthy controls. Ratios of N-acetylaspartate to creatine (Cr) and choline to Cr and the absolute concentrations of the metabolites were measured by chemical shift imaging with a 1H-MR spectroscopy operating at 3T. All patients with clinically definitive NMO and LETM were found to be positive for NMO−immunoglobin G with a commercially available test. RESULTS: The metabolic pattern of the NAWM of patients with NMO showed no difference compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse white matter damage is absent in NMO.