title: Muscular weakness in individuals with HIV associated with a disorganization of the cortico-spinal tract: a multi-modal MRI investigation.
abstract: Motor impairment is highly prevalent in HIV-infected patients. Here, we assess associations between peripheral muscular deficits as evaluated by the 5 sit-to-stand test (5STS) and structural integrity of the motor system at a central level. Eighty-six HIV-infected patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy and with no major cerebral events, underwent an MRI scan and the 5STS. Out of 86 participants, forty presented a score greater than two standard deviations above mean normative scores calculated for the 5STS and were therefore considered as motor-impaired. MRI-structural cerebral parameters were compared to the unimpaired participants. Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Axial Diffusivity (AD) and Radial Diffusivity (RD), reflecting microstructural integrity, were extracted from Diffusion-Tensor MRI. Global and regional cerebral volumes or thicknesses were extracted from 3D-T1 morphological MRI. Whereas the two groups did not differ for any HIV variables, voxel-wise analysis revealed that motor-impaired participants present low FA values in various cortico-motor tracts and low AD in left cortico-spinal tract. However, they did not present reduced volumes or thicknesses of the precentral cortices compared to unimpaired participants. The absence of alterations in cortical regions holding motor-neurons might argue against neurodegenerative process as an explanation of White Matter (WM) disorganization.
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Talence, France.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Bixente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dilharreguy
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amieva
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dauchy
authors.forename: Carinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Greib
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dehail
authors.forename: Gwénaëlle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catheline
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology