title: White matter microstructure and cognition in adolescents with congenital heart disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the relationship between altered white matter microstructure and neurodevelopment in children with dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA).
  
  
  METHODS
  We report correlations between regional white matter microstructure as measured by fractional anisotropy (FA) and cognitive outcome in a homogeneous group of adolescents with d-TGA. Subjects with d-TGA (n = 49) and controls (n = 29) underwent diffusion tensor imaging and neurocognitive testing. In the group with d-TGA, we correlated neurocognitive scores with FA in 14 composite regions of interest in which subjects with d-TGA had lower FA than controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the patients with d-TGA, mathematics achievement correlated with left parietal FA (r = 0.39; P = .006), inattention/hyperactivity symptoms correlated with right precentral FA (r = -0.39; P = .006) and left parietal FA (r = -0.30; P = .04), executive function correlated with right precentral FA (r = -0.30; P = .04), and visual-spatial skills correlated with right frontal FA (r = 0.30; P = .04). We also found an unanticipated correlation between memory and right posterior limb of the internal capsule FA (r = 0.29; P = .047).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the group with d-TGA, regions of reduced white matter microstructure are associated with cognitive performance in a pattern similar to that seen in healthy adolescents and adults. Diminished white matter microstructure may contribute to cognitive compromise in adolescents who underwent open-heart surgery in infancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Caitlin K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rollins
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Asaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wypij
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Sridhar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vajapeyam
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bellinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: DeMaso
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Jane W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Newburger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. Electronic address: michael.rivkin@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rivkin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016880:Anisotropy; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*