Reduced white matter integrity in primary open-angle glaucoma: a DTI study using tract-based spatial statistics.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to map the alteration of white matter in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) by applying tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis.


METHODS
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from MRI brain scans were collected from 15 POAG patients and 15 gender- and age-matched non-glaucoma controls using a SIEMENS Trio 3.0-Tesla scanner. For the white-matter analysis, DTI images were processed using FSL software (http://www.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/index.html). Fractional anisotropy (FA) between the POAG and control groups was compared by TBSS analysis corrected for multiple comparisons using threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE).


RESULTS
Compared with non-glaucoma subjects, the occipital white matter in POAG patients had significantly lower FA values (p<0.05, corrected).


CONCLUSIONS
The change in white-matter FA may indicate atrophy of the visual cortex that may be important in the diagnosis and treatment of POAG patients.
Department of Neurosurgery, Jinan Military General Hospital, Jinan 250000, PR China. pglu912@126.com
Peigang
P
Lu
Linping
L
Shi
Hanjian
H
Du
Bing
B
Xie
Changying
C
Li
Sha
S
Li
Ting
T
Liu
Hua
H
Feng
Jian
J
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult