Binswanger's disease and quantitative fractional anisotropy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the integrity of the white matter in Binswanger's disease (BD) patients with quantitative fractional anisotropy (DTI-FA).


METHODS
Controls (12) and patients with BD (12) were included. Scans performed with MR (GE Signa Horizon/1.5T). Fazekas's score=6 with white matter hyperintensities extension >75% assessed on FLAIR scans. Standard parameters for DTI-FA were used. ROIs placed in symmetrical regions on two axial planes, data pooled in anterior (frontal) and posterior (temporo-parieto-occipital) regions. Analysis with Functool. Statistics for anterior and posterior regions comparison.


RESULTS
DTI-FA showed reduction of anisotropy, reflecting axonal damage and demyelination of fibers, more prominent in anterior in relation to posterior region, in BD patients in comparison to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Loss of integrity of fiber tracts reflects interruption of neural networks that subserve cognitive, behavioral, and motor integration. The more severely affected frontal region is related to executive dysfunction, a characteristic feature of Binswanger's disease.
Engelhardt
Eliasz
E
Instituto de Neurologia Deolindo Couto, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. eliasz@centroin.com.br
Moreira
Denise Madeira
DM
Alves
Gilberto Sousa
GS
Lanna
Maria Elisa Oliveira
ME
Alves
Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira
CE
Ericeira-Valente
Letice
L
Sudo
Felipe Kenji
FK
Laks
Jerson
J
D000368:Aged; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male