Investigating Microstructural Changes in White Matter in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging

Brain Sciences

Abdulmajeed Alotaibi¹  Ali Aldhebaib¹  Rob A. Dineen²  Anna Podlasek²  Amjad AlTokhis²  Cris S. Constantinescu² 

[1]Department of Radiological Sciences, School of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh 14611, Saudi Arabia

[2]Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK

关键词: neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging;    NODDI;    multi-shell diffusion;    multi-compartment diffusion;    multiple sclerosis;    MS;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci11091151

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterised by widespread damage of the central nervous system that includes alterations in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and demyelinating white matter (WM) lesions. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) has been proposed to provide a precise characterisation of WM microstructures. NODDI maps can be calculated for the Neurite Density Index (NDI) and Orientation Dispersion Index (ODI), which estimate orientation dispersion and neurite density. Although NODDI has not been widely applied in MS, this technique is promising in investigating the complexity of MS pathology, as it is more specific than diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in capturing microstructural alterations. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies using NODDI metrics to assess brain microstructural changes and neuroaxonal pathology in WM lesions and NAWM in patients with MS. Three reviewers conducted a literature search of four electronic databases. We performed a random-effect meta-analysis and the extent of between-study heterogeneity was assessed with the I2 statistic. Funnel plots and Egger’s tests were used to assess publication bias. We identified seven studies analysing 374 participants (202 MS and 172 controls). The NDI in WM lesions and NAWM were significantly reduced compared to healthy WM and the standardised mean difference of each was −3.08 (95%CI −4.22 to (−1.95), p ≤ 0.00001, I2 = 88%) and −0.70 (95%CI −0.99 to (−0.40), p ≤ 0.00001, I2 = 35%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference of the ODI in MS WM lesions and NAWM compared to healthy controls. This systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that the NDI is significantly reduced in MS lesions and NAWM than in WM from healthy participants, corresponding to reduced intracellular signal fraction, which may reflect underlying damage or loss of neurites.

【 授权许可】

Unknown