Abnormal axial diffusivity in the deep gray nuclei and dorsal brain stem in infantile spasm treated with vigabatrin

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2011 Jan;32(1):199-203. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2224. Epub 2010 Aug 26.

Abstract

We evaluated the DTI changes in the deep gray nuclei and dorsal brain stem, which demonstrated abnormal T2 and/or diffusion signal intensity, in 6 patients with infantile spasm treated with vigabatrin compared with 6 age-matched controls. Regions of interest were placed in the globi pallidi, thalami, and dorsal brain stem; FA, trace, D(‖), and D(⊥) were measured. Patients on vigabatrin had significantly lower FA in both globi pallidi (P = .01) and the dorsal brain stem (P < .01), significantly lower trace in both globi pallidi (P = .01) and the thalami (P = .02 and .01 for right and left, respectively), and significantly lower D(‖) in both globi pallidi (P ≤ .01), the thalami (P < .01), and the dorsal brain stem (P = .03). There were no significant differences in D(⊥) of the globi pallidi, thalami, or dorsal brain stem in patients compared with controls. The findings suggest that axonal changes play a greater role in the observed abnormal signal intensity, with lesser contribution from myelin changes.

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / adverse effects
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Brain Stem / drug effects*
  • Brain Stem / pathology*
  • Diffuse Axonal Injury / chemically induced*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Male
  • Spasms, Infantile / complications
  • Spasms, Infantile / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vigabatrin / adverse effects*
  • Vigabatrin / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Vigabatrin