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Corpus Callosum Volume and Interhemispheric Transfer in Multiple Sclerosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

L. N. Brown ,
Y. Zhang ,
J. R. Mitchell ,
R. Zabad  and
L. M. Metz
L. N. Brown*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Y. Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
J. R. Mitchell
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Diagnostic Imaging, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
R. Zabad
Affiliation:
Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
L. M. Metz
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*
Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Foothills Medical Centre, 1104, 1403-29 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 2T9, Canada.
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Abstract

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Background:

The corpus callosum (CC) is frequently compromised in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Structural and functional measurements of the CC may be useful to monitor the progression of the disease. The aim of this pilot study was to determine if bimanual tactile temporal thresholds correlates with CC volume. A tactile temporal threshold is the longest temporal interval that separates the onsets of two tactile stimuli when they are judged by the observer as simultaneous. Judgments to bimanual stimulations require interhemispheric transfer via the CC.

Methods:

Thresholds were examined in MS patients and matched controls. Magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired on a 3T MR system within 48 hours of clinical assessment and measurement of thresholds.

Results:

Corpus callosum volume was assessed by using a semiautomatic livewire algorithm. The CC volume was smaller (by 21% on average, p < 0.01) and thresholds were higher (by 49% on average, p < 0.03) in MS patients when compared to controls. A significant correlation (r = -0.66, p = 0.01) between CC volume and thresholds emerged for the MS patients.

Conclusion:

Measuring treatment benefits of neuroprotective and repair therapies is a well recognized challenge in MS research. The overall findings of this study suggest that these measurements, which involve the transfer of information interhemispherically via the CC, may be promising outcome measures that warrant further scientific exploration to develop a model to measure recovery.

Résumé:

RÉSUMÉ:Contexte:

Le corps calleux (CC) est souvent impliqué dans le processus pathologique chez les patients atteints de sclérose en plaques (SP). Des mesures structurales et fonctionnelles du CC peuvent étre utiles pour surveiller la progression de la maladie.

Objectif:

Le but de cette étude exploratoire était de déterminer si les seuils temporaux de discrimination tactile bimanuelle sont corrélés au volume du CC. Un seuil temporel de discrimination tactile est l’intervalle le plus long qui sépare le début de deux stimuli tactiles quand ils sont jugés par l’observateur comme étant simultanés. Les évaluations des stimulations bimanuelles requièrent un transfert interhémisphérique via le CC.

Méthodes:

Les seuils de discrimination tactile ont été examinés chez des patients atteints de SP et des témoins appariés. Une évaluation par IRM a été effectuée au moyen d’un système IRM 3T dans les 48 heures de l’évaluation clinique et de la mesure des seuils.

Résultats:

Le volume du CC a été évalué au moyen d’un algorithme pour vidéo semi-automatisé “livewire”. Le volume du CC était plus petit (de 21% en moyenne ; p < 0,01) et les seuils étaient plus élevés (de 49% en moyenne ; p < 0,03) chez les patients atteints de SP par rapport aux témoins. Il existait une corrélation significative (r = -0,66 ; p = 0,01) entre le volume du CC et les seuils chez les patients atteints de SP.

Conclusion:

La mesure des bénéfices du traitement neuroprotecteur et réparateur est un défi bien connu en recherche sur la SP. Les observations faites au cours de cette étude suggèrent que ces mesures, qui comportent le transfert interhémisphérique d’information via le CC, pourraient aider à l’évaluation des résultats d’un traitement. Ceci méritent une exploration scientifique plus poussée afin de développer un modèle pour évaluer la récupération.

Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 37 , Issue 5 , September 2010 , pp. 615 - 619
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2010

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