EHMTI-0085. White matter microstructure abnormalities in pediatric migraine patients: in-vivo measures of brain hyperexcitability?

R Messina,A Falini,G Comi,Ma Rocca,B Colombo,M Filippi,E Pagani

doi:10.1186/1129-2377-15-s1-e18

Abstract

By exploiting diffusion characteristics of water molecules in the central nervous system, diffusion tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides several quantities with the potential to disclose WM microstructure abnormalities. Among these, fractional anisotropy (FA) reflects axonal integrity and fiber organization, mean diffusivity (MD) measures the overall magnitude of diffusion, axial diffusivity (AD) is associated with fiber density and axon intrinsic characteristics, whereas radial diffusivity (RD) reflects the degree of myelination.

Highlights

By exploiting diffusion characteristics of water molecules in the central nervous system, diffusion tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides several quantities with the potential to disclose white matter (WM) microstructure abnormalities
Using a 3.0 Tesla scanner, dual-echo and DT MRI scans were acquired from 15 pediatric migraine patients and 15 age-matched controls
In order to confirm Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) results, we performed a DT probabilistic tractography analysis. Both TBSS and DT tractography analysis showed that compared to controls, pediatric migraine patients had significantly lower mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) of the brainstem, thalamus and fronto-temporo-occipital lobes

Summary

Introduction

By exploiting diffusion characteristics of water molecules in the central nervous system, diffusion tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides several quantities with the potential to disclose WM microstructure abnormalities. Fractional anisotropy (FA) reflects axonal integrity and fiber organization, mean diffusivity (MD) measures the overall magnitude of diffusion, axial diffusivity (AD) is associated with fiber density and axon intrinsic characteristics, whereas radial diffusivity (RD) reflects the degree of myelination. Aims To explore abnormalities of white matter (WM) microstructure in pediatric patients with migraine using DT MRI and two different methods of analysis

Methods

Results

Conclusions