Neuromyelitis optica does not impact periventricular venous density versus healthy controls: a 7.0Tesla MRI clinical study.

Abstract

To quantify the periventricular venous density in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease (NMOSD) in comparison to that in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy control subjects. Sixteen patients with NMOSD, 16 patients with MS and 16 healthy control subjects underwent 7.0-Tesla (7T) MRI. The imaging protocol included T2*-weighted (T2*w) fast low angle-shot (FLASH) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences. The periventricular venous area (PVA) was manually determined by a blinded investigator in order to estimate the periventricular venous density in a region of interest-based approach. No significant differences in periventricular venous density indicated by PVA were detectable in NMOSD versus healthy controls (p=0.226). In contrast, PVA was significantly reduced in MS patients compared to healthy controls (p=0.013). Unlike patients with MS, those suffering from NMOSD did not show reduced venous visibility. This finding may underscore primary and secondary pathophysiological differences between these two distinct diseases of the central nervous system.