Longitudinal changes in white matter following ischemic stroke: a three-year follow-up study.
Information on longitudinal changes in white matter after stroke is limited. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively investigate longitudinal changes in the microstructural integrity of non-lesioned white matter at 1-3 years following ischemic stroke. In a sample of 80 ischemic stroke patients, we obtained diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures of fractional anisotropy (FA), an apparent measure of white matter integrity, in radiologically normal-appearing white matter at baseline and 3 years of follow-up. Mixed model regression analysis results showed a significant improvement in FA from baseline during the first 2 years of follow-up that stabilized by the third year of follow-up. These results demonstrate a long-term improvement in apparent white matter integrity following ischemic stroke that continues, at least, into the second year following the insult.
Wang
Changsheng
C
Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Room 341B, 1735 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. changsheng_wang@rush.edu <changsheng_wang@rush.edu>
Stebbins
Glenn T
GT
Nyenhuis
David L
DL
deToledo-Morrell
Leyla
L
Freels
Sally
S
Gencheva
Eugenia
E
Pedelty
Laura
L
Sripathirathan
Kumar
K
Moseley
Michael E
ME
Turner
David A
DA
Gabrieli
John D E
JD
Gorelick
Philip B
PB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors