title: Cerebral and muscle MRI abnormalities in myotonic dystrophy.
abstract: Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the clinically devastating CNS features of myotonic dystrophy (DM) remain more enigmatic and controversial than do the muscle abnormalities of this common form of muscular dystrophy. To better define CNS and cranial muscle changes in DM, we used quantitative volumetric and diffusion tensor MRI methods to measure cerebral and masticatory muscle differences between controls (n=5) and adults with either congenital (n=5) or adult onset (n=5) myotonic dystrophy type 1 and myotonic dystrophy type 2 (n=5). Muscle volumes were diminished in DM1 and strongly correlated with reduced white matter integrity and gray matter volume. Moreover, correlation of reduced fractional anisotropy (white matter integrity) and gray matter volume in both DM1 and DM2 suggests that these abnormalities may share a common underlying pathophysiological mechanism. Further quantitative temporal and spatial characterization of these features will help delineate developmental and progressive neurological components of DM, and help determine the causative molecular and cellular mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Franc
authors.forename: Ryan L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Muetzel
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Craig P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Joline C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Cameron E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Naughton
authors.forename: Bryon A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wozniak
authors.forename: Kelvin O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000473:pathology*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000473:pathology