title: Binswanger's disease and quantitative fractional anisotropy.
abstract: 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.
authors: Instituto de Neurologia Deolindo Couto, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. eliasz@centroin.com.br
authors: Eliasz
authors: E
authors: Engelhardt
authors: Denise Madeira
authors: DM
authors: Moreira
authors: Gilberto Sousa
authors: GS
authors: Alves
authors: Maria Elisa Oliveira
authors: ME
authors: Lanna
authors: Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira
authors: CE
authors: Alves
authors: Letice
authors: L
authors: Ericeira-Valente
authors: Felipe Kenji
authors: FK
authors: Sudo
authors: Jerson
authors: J
authors: Laks
mesh_terms: 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