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.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000473:pathology*